SVA alumnus Dinh Q. Lê (MFA 1999 Photography and Related Media) was recently presented with the Prince Claus Award, which includes a cash prize of $35,000, by the Dutch Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Lê’s politically-charged artwork—often photographic strips that weave together images of eastern and western cultures—is primarily inspired by the Vietnam War and Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge.

According to the Prince Claus Fund Web site, Lê was chosen “for his strong creative work exploring different constructions of reality, for providing inspiration and practical opportunities for young artists, and for advancing free thought and contemporary visual expression in a context of indifference and hostility.”

To read an interview with Dinh Q. Lê, visit The Days of Yore. To view more of his work, visit P.P.O.W. Gallery.

Images: (top) Dinh Q. Lê (left) receives the Prince Claus Award. Courtesy of the Prince Claus Fund. (bottom) Untitled from the “South China Sea Pishkun” series, 2009. Courtesy of P.P.O.W. Gallery, New York.