Performance An Interview with Little Peanut and the multimedia storytelling workshop
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06–07 May 2023
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An exercise in shaping memories
– with Bạn đời của vạn vật
The exhibition In absence, presence showcases how artists honor their loved ones through various forms and media. Drawing inspiration from these tributes, Nguyen Art Foundation organized a special papier-mâché workshop led by Thien Tan from the Bạn đời của vạn vật project. During this workshop, participants created their own refrigerator magnets shaped like objects that remind them of their family members and evoke feelings of home. These small magnets become memory anchors in our everyday “diary” – the surface of our refrigerator, an appliance that witnesses our daily family life. Some magnets hold family photos, others preserve memories from distant travels, and some simply display daily reminders or words of encouragement.
In the workshop, Nguyen Art Foundation was deeply moved to hear personal family stories come to life through handcrafted objects. One participant shared, “I crafted a Honda motorcycle because it embodies my cherished childhood memories – those precious moments when my father would take me on rides”.
The presence of our deaf participants was also meaningful, inspiring our team to reimagine more inclusive events – spaces where everyone can truly connect, and create together as one community.
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In absence, presence is not merely a one-dimensional experience, but rather a vibrant network between actors and actants* that are interlinked and constantly interacting. In this network, materials serve as both the main and supporting actors. Positioning art as a connector rather than the sole focus, the public programs revolving around In absence, presence uses physical materials to respond to cultural and social issues beyond the white cube. Let your eyes be deceived, your sense of touch misled by illusory textures, to break down any preconceptions and embark on a journey of self-interpretation and continuous meaning-making.
This event is part of a series of public and education programs initiated by Nhi Duong in co-curation with Bill Nguyen, in association with In absence, presence, an exhibition organized by Nguyen Art Foundation.
*Bruno Latour, in Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory (Oxford, 2005)