“Queen Bee” is a live installation, or series of happenings*, inspired by a story as told to New York-based artist Rodney Dickson. “Papillon, Saigon 2025” commemorates the 50th anniversary of the war in Vietnam ending, 20 years after “Queen Bee” debuted in Roger Smith Hotel, New York.
“Papillon, Saigon 2025,” its most recent version, is currently appearing at Minh Tam Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.
Mai Do, who relayed the original story to Dickson, was a 6-year-old in the immediate aftermath of the war, just as peace was being restored in what she calls the “S-shaped land.” Mai moved with her parents and her brother and sisters into a house on Dong Khoi Street that had once been the Queen Bee, Snake Bar and Tea Room. The installation evokes, in her words, the “image of a once-bustling bar now standing eerily silent, with its neon sign still flickering —a powerful contrast that deeply moved Rodney. It symbolized a weapon laid down, a moment of quietude, and a profound sense of peace arising from the end of all prior conflict and turmoil.”
Mai Do added, “The drink bottles were still there and everything was as it had been left on the last night of business, the people had gone but their ghostly presence remained.”
The County Down-born Dickson has done projects based on this Vietnamese-set theme in various cities, including Belfast, New York, Los Angeles and Miami. Now, with the support of the British Council as part of its Global Arts Program, “Queen Bee” has been brought to its original setting, a business on a Saigon street, and revives an older name for the bar, "Papillon." The sponsorship of Ho Chi Minh City businessman Do Thanh Hai has helped the installation to be realized as envisioned, which will include locals sharing their memories of the Fall of Saigon, on April 30, 1975. The event aims, additionally, to celebrate the now good relations between the two former adversaries - Vietnam and the United States.
Mai Do said, “I told this story to my wonderful friend Rodney, who guided me through the art world, and provided me with a platform of amazing knowledge, experience and networking in New York City and beyond."
Fifty years after her impactful experience, Mai Do is collaborating directly with Dickson for the first time, and the two artists have recreated the space based entirely on her memory.
She said, “I am honored to have been invited to join this project in Saigon. In the previous 'Queen Bee' installations, I missed my chances in Ireland and the U.S. as I was too busy with my business and growing my young family. Now that I have time, I told Rodney, ‘Let’s get going!’”
The pair are joined by London-based artist Derek Lee-Muller as production manager. Also participating are performing artists Natanal, from Seoul, South Korea, in collaboration with Ngo Thanh Phuong, from Dalat, Vietnam, and performance artists Myk Henry, a Dubliner based in New York, with Dayeon Kim from Seoul, South Korea, and Mideo Cruz from Manilla, Philippines. Nguyen Trinh Thi, from Hanoi, Vietnam, will show her film "Vietnam the Movie." The Canadian singer-songwriter Patrick Watson will perform, too, as part of the event and award-winning American filmmaker Robert Adanto will make a documentary about it.
"Papillon Saigon 2025" said in a statement, “We will have three opening nights when the bar will be up and running as a normal bar, in order to charge the atmosphere and after these nights, the bar will be empty of people for a week, having only the remains of what they have left behind.”
[*Happening: The term was first used by Allan Kaprow, with the art installation often involving audience participation, as well as music and other elements of daily life.]
“Queen Bee”/“Papillon Saigon 2025.” Installation: Medium: Wood, composite, LED lights. Minh Tam Hotel, 4B Le Quy Don Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
