A visit from Fulbright University Vietnam
-
12 April 2023
Read Một cộng đồng trôi dạt và sự đa cảm của vật liệu here
Text by gấu thiên thể | Graphic design by Tram Nguyen
This essay is available in Vietnamese only
RELATED:
Exhibition outing with gấu thiên thể
The smooth surface of wood worn down through years of skin contact, the fire ash that leaves clothes riddled with holes, the rot of wood submerged in water – these surfaces, impossible to recreate by human hands, are rich with emotion and carry with them singular narratives. This exploration of Thanh Mai’s works led by gấu thiên thể is an effort to delve deeper into the relationships between materials and people, clothing and the body, driftwood and peaceful home. Anchoring gấu thiên thể’s storytelling of the exhibition is what the duo calls the sentimentality of materials. This journey will unveil the traces of human presence within Thanh Mai’s artworks that are unique to a community floating on the vast waters of the Tonlé Sap.
–
Following Nguyen Art Foundation’s main theme in 2023 – Compassion and Community – aside from hosting talks, workshops and tours that revolve around this topic, we are also inviting individuals and collectives that have created, or are part of a community that is passionate about specific art forms. To reflect how community engagement is constantly evolving, we wish to highlight diverse practices that do not shy away from experimentation, and that take an alternative approach to familiar media. The individuals and collectives invited here are inspired by, but also empower their respective communities – a give-and-take that is essential for sustainable community work.
This series of community takeovers was commissioned by Thái Hà for No more, not yet, an exhibition organized by Nguyen Art Foundation.