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Experience the “Vision Party” with French and Vietnamese Artists in Hanoi this Month

The public in Hanoi have the chance to experience unexpected and interesting resonances through the works being exhibited in the same space, which explore various themes through different lenses.

Administrator

12 June, 2023

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More than 200 works by nine renowned local and foreign artists and photographers are being showcased in a trilogy of exhibitions titled “Vision Party” at the Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) in Hanoi, running until June 25, 2023.

Curator Mai Nguyen Anh has transformed a photo from Hai Thanh’s “Place of Belonging” series into an interactive curtain to welcome the audience to his exhibition area.

Under the framework of the Photo Hanoi’23 – Biennale, three exhibitions are running simultaneously, jointly organized by the VCCA and the French Institute in Hanoi. Titled “Robert Doisneau”, “Revived” and “Place of Belonging”, these exhibitions offer visitors the opportunity to explore a variety of artworks and experiences.

Each exhibition showcases a unique tale about the respective artist, their approach to the art of photography, their means of expression, and how they lived life.

Born in 1912, Robert Doisneau is one of the most celebrated figures in modern photography. Throughout his long career, he has captured a wide range of subjects, often juxtaposing the conformist and the unconventional in photographs characterized by an excellent sense of humor, anti-establishment values, and profound humanism.

It is impossible to imagine a world today without photography everywhere. However, this was the reality for Robert Doisneau when he started his work. He was told that there was nothing to see in the place he was in, but he chose to capture images based on what chance presented to him.

Through years of hard work, accompanied by impeccable rigor and unbridled imagination, Robert Doisneau left behind a collection of 450,000 photographs documenting the bustling life of the streets of Paris.

The 27 photographs on display are not only a retrospective of the photographer, but also a portrait of a man in all of the significant moments of his life, his era, and the practice of a profession that has evolved and is currently being tested.

Visitors to the “Revived” exhibition will be able to marvel at the incredible advances in internet and social media technology over the past decade. Artificial Intelligence has enabled people to access ideas and images with no need for a personal or intimate connection.

Moreover, the desire to record, preserve memories, and tell stories has always been an enduring human characteristic that sets them apart from other species. How can artists find strategies to protect themselves from the constant barrage of images that are part of people’s daily lives, and still remain true to their stories?

The photo taken by artist Hua Nhu Xuan is on display at the “Revived” exhibition

The artworks in this exhibition start with photography, which serves as a platform for the invited artists to explore their self-understanding, the perception of the world, their unconscious thought process, and the creation of images. The works are derived from a range of sources such as family photographs, records, performance, and installation. By slowly unveiling their personal stories, these artists not only bring us closer to their inner selves, but also urge us to reflect on our consumption of images.

Through more than 150 works on display, artists and photographers such as Nhu Xuan Hua, Nadia Cao, Hien Hoang, Serena Chang, Nguyen Thuy Tien, Kvet Nguyen, and Caroline Gervay have demonstrated different ways of understanding oneself, understanding the world, exploring thought patterns, and imagining an image of oneself.

Finally, the exhibition “Place of Belonging” by artist Hai Thanh (born in 1972) will give viewers the opportunity to contemplate the “place” we cherish. It could be a customary scenery, a whimsical instant, or a recollection.

The photo was taken by artist Hai Thanh at the exhibition “Place of Belonging”

Artist Hai Thanh shared that he has an insatiable urge to photograph. For nearly 30 years, documenting and archiving has been a daily practice.

Nine years ago, Hai Thanh settled down, started a family, and moved to an unfamiliar city. Having been used to a constant state of flux, Hai Thanh faced a sense of displacement, and this prompted him to explore the concept of “home” on a personal level, ultimately leading to an insightful journey into parenthood.

Hai Thanh’s endeavor provides viewers with an opportunity to explore an intimate landscape, a nostalgic moment, and a familiar memory. Through the use of images, Hai Thanh invites us to look both inward and outward. His photographs are a beautiful tribute to the joys, complexities, and intricacies of family ties.