Dhoua Vue

supported by parents

Jim Vue & Sai Thao

Dhoua Vue’s older sister Ghia Nah drowned in 2017 at the age of six years old. This death, created many changes for Dhoua including placing her in the role of being a big sister. Dhoua has been making movies since the age of 4 and joined Rain Watcher in her continued efforts to acknowledge these significant changes.

My mother tells me that I am made of water.

Now that I am 11 years old, I have learned that water is never the same.

Before, I used to like swimming in pools, but now I like to swim in lakes and rivers.

Sometimes I like to swim in waterfalls too. This is how I know that water is different. I like it when the water splatters.

Sometime it’s cold and sometimes it’s hot. I like to take hot showers. When I am in water I think about the rain.

The rain brings memories and makes them clearer for me to remember. Each drop of water is a hope, love and fun.

If I am water, then I want to create rainbows for my friends and family to love.

photographs by Lee Elee Vue / concept and writing by Dhoua Vue

Water pOrtraits

I am the girl in the water. When I am in the water, I remember my sister. We were very close growing up. She was my very best friend and we learned about the world together. When she drowned, I had no idea death meant gone forever. Many things started to changed after that and nothing was ever the same again.

People said their good byes and I never said mine. When I am in the water, I can feel my sister all around me like a warm lake. When I come out of water, I feel the cold drift and I am left with wondering what will come without my sister. I am the girl in the water.