"Still Lives," an exhibit of 70 paintings and drawings by 18 Vietnamese, explores the trials and slim joys of daily life in Hong Kong's detention camps, where boat people await word whether they will be given asylum or be forcibly returned to Vietnam. The show came together thanks largely to the efforts of Veronique Saunier, a French public relations consultant who spends time as a volunteer working in the refugee camps. The result is a hauntingly eloquent vision of life in the camps. A scene of people lining up for their daily rations was painted by a law student, Tran Van Hung. The scene used for the exhibition's poster was painted by Hoang Quoc Bien. In it, a young boy stands on an upended garbage can, straining to talk to a girl on the other side of a barbed wire fence -- the Statue of Liberty watches over the lovers' meeting.

Véronique Saunier is a freelance journalist. She covers various industries from new technologies to textile and fashion. Based in Hong Kong, she has regularly contributed to former the Far Eastern Economic Review; Hong Kong's leading English newspaper, the South China Morning Post; Swiss daily newspaper and business publication 24Heures and PME Magazine as well as international trend magazine WGSN.

13.2 Linear Feet (1 half document case and 57 pieces of art)

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The collection is open for research.