The Pink Donut Box

Mayly Tao, graphite on pink donut box, 25" x 30.5," 2019 - 2020

Rithy Panh, graphite on pink donut box, 25" x 30.5," 2019 - 2020

THE PINK DONUT BOX: Tracing Stories of Cambodian and Vietnamese Refugees

Informed by my family’s refugee history and inspired by personal research and interviews with Vietnamese and Cambodian refugees, my drawings on pink donut boxes and paintings unpack the complexities of immigration, displacement, and cultural assimilation within Southeast Asian communities. Each donut box drawing is meant to be a sensitive portrayal of a unique personal story. Close to 90% of California’s donut shops are mom-and-pop businesses run by Cambodian immigrants or Cambodian Americans (Khmericans). The trend that links pink boxes with donuts can be traced back to the Khmerican donut ecosystem.