» Source Code

The artwork Source Code is part of Bui Hai Son’s 2023 solo exhibition, Revelation. 

The title Revelation signifies the act of unveiling mysteries. In this exhibition, Bui Hai Son materializes and reveals his metaphysical inner world, where the symbol of the seed of life takes center stage. Whether appearing as a million-year-old fossil or newly born, this seed exists in a sacred, infinite cycle of reincarnation. Across diverse shapes, forms and materials, it consistently originates from a singular image: the rice grain. 

Through Revelation, Bui Hai Son’s art once again underscores the harmony between reason and emotion. His rational approach is evident in his academic grounding, minimalist aesthetic, deep sensitivity to materials – their origins and meanings (such as his repurposing of discarded Hopea wood, a material traditionally used for boat building in the Ông Chưởng Islet of the Mekong Delta), and mastery of new materials like stainless steel, glass, and plexiglass. At the same time, his emotional sensibility is deeply rooted in the spiritual and cultural beliefs of the Mekong Delta, a region that has nurtured him since birth. 

(Edited from text excerpts by art researcher Vu Huy Thong)