David Newson-Tran, Gens, វង្សាវញាណ, 门第 (ART 2025)

“不孝有三，无后为大” — Of the three great betrayals, not having children is the worst. Gens, វង#វ$ណ, 门第, explores family and cultural expectations, inspired by my wife’s traditional Chinese upbringing and our decision not to have children—a difficult break from family norms. This work reflects on that quiet shift—the slow erosion of inherited culture, the influence of one world on another. Generations combine into a single moment; cultural symbols remain, but they are fragile. The past is there, but distant. A white body lingers in the frame, a presence that is both personal and colonial. Considering the fragility of lineage, a bloodline can end with one choice. We live with unfulfilled wishes and the stories we choose to continue—or let go. The past lingers, sometimes loud, sometimes barely there.

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