Eyes See Me

Eyes See Me is a performance video that unfolds as a meditative dialogue between the self and its inner reflection—a journey toward contentment and presence. Rooted in Zack Nguyen’s practice of art, expressive art therapy and metaphysical world-making, this work extends beyond visual perception, immersing the viewer in a realm where sight becomes a bridge between the external world and the ever-shifting internal landscape.

Inspired by the teachings of Buddhist monk and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh, Eyes See Me embraces his belief in the everyday miracle of existence: vast sky, ephemeral clouds, depth within a child’s gaze, and quiet wonder of one’s own eyes looking back. Nguyen explores vision as both a literal and symbolic act—an invitation to witness the self not as a static being, but as a fluid presence in perpetual transformation.

Through movement, light, and contemplative pacing, Eyes See Me engages with the duality of selfhood: the longing for peace and the resistance to surrender, the observer and the participant, the self that sees and the self that seeks. Each frame captures this paradox, revealing how the simple act of looking—truly looking—can be an act of recognition, of embracing the beauty within and around.

Nguyen’s work does not dictate meaning; instead, it extends an open hand to the viewer, inviting them to pause, reflect, and step into the quiet miracle of being—where identity is not fixed, but ever-evolving, unfolding within the rhythm of existence.