The inaugural public art project on the Tran Nhat Duat pedestrian bridge, which opened on May 4th, marks the creation of Hanoi’s first dedicated walking tour of public art. The bridge serves as a pedestrian walkway connecting the Phuc Tan public art space and the Cultural and Arts Center (22 Hang Buom).
Situated in the Hoan Kiem District, the Tran Nhat Duat Street footbridge forms a pedestrian walkway between the Old Quarter of Hanoi and the Phuc Tan neighborhood.
| Curator Nguyen The Son presents the project. Photo: VNA |
Artists Vu Xuan Dong, Le Dang Ninh, Can Van An, and curator Nguyen The Son, have transformed this pedestrian bridge into a more lively and cheerful evening destination with the addition of illuminated installation art. Notably, some of the installations are crafted from recycled materials.
Interactive water-themed artworks will be installed at various points along the footbridge, transforming it into an array of luminous works.
Artist Vu Xuan Dong’s work Aquarium evokes the sensation of walking through a captivating aquarium tunnel.
Along the bridge corridor, artist Le Dang Ninh’s light installation Waves evokes memories of the silt-carrying waves of the Red River throughout history. Interspersed between the layers of waves are hand-drawn images printed on woodblocks, depicting workers of various trades and professions in early 19th-century Hanoi as depicted in Henri Oger’s study Technology of the Annamese People.
| Visitors capture images of artworks on the Tran Nhat Duat footbridge. Photo: Duy Minh/The Hanoi Times |
At the foot of the stairs, visitors can admire the painting “Carp Crossing the Dragon Gate” by painter Can Van An, which draws inspiration from the Hang Trong folk painting school.
According to curator Nguyen The Son, this public art project on the Tran Nhat Duat pedestrian bridge is the result of three years of ideation. Connecting Hanoi’s Old Quarter with the Phuc Tan public art space fosters a link between the Old Quarter and the Phuc Tan neighborhood in the Red River riparian areas.
Pham Tuan Long, Chairman of the Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee, emphasized that the art space’s theme resonates with nature and the environment, conveying a message of reducing plastic waste and utilizing recycled materials to protect the environment.
“This objective is aligned with the goals established by the Hanoi government and contributes to the development of cultural industries. This art space underscores the Red River’s longstanding significance to the capital city,” Long stated.
Tran Nhat Duat Pedestrian Bridge, Phuc Tan Public Art Space, and Hanoi’s Old Quarter are effectively connected, creating an enticing walking art tour that fosters economic and cultural development while enriching the cultural experiences of local residents.
This project also promotes the practice of walking as a means to explore the city’s cultural and artistic heritage.
