Catherine Nguyen-Hoang - What the dark keeps

Original Artwork

About the Artwork:

Dear M, D, F and V, It is a joy watching you all grow up. Lately, I’ve seen you take interest in new instruments, new sports, and the small joys that come with school and friendships. But growing up also brings things that are harder to see. Today, F was upset because we couldn’t have dinner on the balcony. What seemed small became everything, and the rest of the day unravelled in waves of tears. To many, this might seem like just another moment—but to a nine-year-old, it is something much bigger. Beneath what we see on the surface, there are feelings still learning how to exist. Frustration, disappointment, confusion—things that don’t yet have the words to be understood. This is what the dark keeps. The quiet battles. The overwhelming thoughts. The emotions that feel too big for such a small body. It is okay to not be okay. And in those moments, I hope you always know—you are never alone in it. You have a family who loves you and will walk beside you through it all. Love always, Mummy xo

About the Artist:

Catherine Nguyen-Hoang is a contemporary artist whose paintings begin with something real—a gesture, a shadow, a memory. She paints the familiar not to distort it, but to reveal the deeper stories they quietly hold.