How artists think, research and care
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04 March 2022
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Murmuring tour with Vicky Do
An artist’s world is lived multiple times: when it is imagined, when it is created, when it is told, and when it is perceived. The world of imagination is powerful – perhaps too powerful. In Plato’s allegory of the cave, even those freed from captivity may desire to return to the cave, accepting the shadows cast by the fire onto the dark walls as reality. Our journeys elsewhere often begin in much the same way: with an imagined place, shaped by stories, images, perceptions, and prejudices long before we encounter it ourselves. An allegory of a place, whether constructed through narrative or visual representation, gives form to this imagination, allowing a place to stand for meanings beyond itself. Elsewhere is anywhere but here. But what does the elsewhere look like? Is it uncanny? Uncomfortable? Dangerous? Boring? Irrelevant?
What is an allegory of elsewhere, then? How might the imagination of a land guide us towards somewhere, while perception, emotion, and personal memories lead us astray – from somewhere to elsewhere, and perhaps eventually to nowhere?
Journeying through the labyrinth of Mạch Ngầm [counter-place], participants listened to the murmurs of different lands and engaged with the allegories scattered across the space. Keyword cards became prompts, bridging various spaces and artworks, with each interpretation bringing about a new way to articulate places. Rather than reducing a place to a single narrative, the allegories enabled alternative imaginings that can push beyond the physical boundaries of each landscape.
The event is part of Mạch Ngầm [counter-place], the first thesis within Within & Beyond: A Taxonomy in Exhibition-making – a year-long educational and curatorial initiative by Vicky Do, featuring Le Anh Thu, Nguyen Vo Bao Han, and Nhi Phan. For more information, please visit our website: https://nguyenartfoundation.com/…/mach-ngam-counter-place