» Rubber Soap Tobacco

Two decades ago, as a student walking to school, Nguyen Phuong Linh would often pass by a row of three industrial factories that produced rubber, soap, and tobacco – the three representations of Vietnam’s economic leap during and after the different wars. The distinctive smells coming from each facility would capture the attention of anyone strolling along Nguyen Trai road, which unwittingly created a collective memory that at the time was associated with a sense of Hanoian “pride”. In Rubber Soap Tobacco, the artist constructs three cubes that respectively contain the three aforementioned substances, reigniting memories of the old days via the power of scent. 

The work is on permanent display at EMASI Van Phuc, HCMC, Vietnam.