I could have gave a detailed description on how the installation of the exhibition, ‘Unity without Uniformity’. However, frankly I couldn’t remember much of it but the fact I was tired and stressed. There was minor disagreement on one of walls display juxtaposition and series of interruption from the people.

On the day of the private view, I was just incredibly stressed. There were so much tasks I have to go through from the morning until the prep for the private view. Collecting the prints, 1-1 tutorial, putting up the flyers and expiation and constant email exchanges in-between, which I almost was late for the actual event.

The major concern was how many people would attend the event as many reply to our invitation was maybe. We were worried if the event will become empty with leftover foods.

However, in reality quite a number of attendees has came by (my sister, friends, and our ups tutor, Sam) and several others who passed by the exhibition wanting to have a look. My landlady and my sister brought a bouquet of flowers which made me feel like a successful artist who just opened a solo exhibition. Along with that, the previous NSI interns, Kulsoma and Vivi came and stayed until the end of the event. This ended up with us exchanging numbers followed by useful advices from them.

The reception was overwhelmingly positive, even after the private view, local library users came by and looked around, which I had a chance to speak to them. On Saturday, a group of people from Vietsocial (network community site for Vietnamese in the UK) visited to show their support for the work, ‘Agent Orange’ by Vietnamese artist featured in the exhibition.

Needless to say, it has been a hectic week, considering the workshops followed with the opening. But in that short amount of time, I really felt the various responses and interaction amongst people. Thus as a person who is responsible for the view, I was eccentric that the works were recognised and appreciated.

When I was calling my family talking about when I’m up to with the project, they said, ‘you’re basically a curator and event organiser’. To which I realised that’s what I was doing, whereas before it didn’t reached to my mind. To confess the truth, even right before setting and private view, I didn’t recognise what I was exactly doing. But once becoming discern of the value of my work, there was a sense of weight in the project.

Looking at the works by the children makes me think to express their view on such heavy pressuring topic such as war and conflicts through art is a courageous thing to do. Even to adults, it’s difficult to speak on. I became respect the artists on our exhibition once again.

It’d have been wonderful if they were able to see the exhibition and its reception.