Are Westerners obsessed with Vinahouse?

French artist Jean Houzard (left) introduces his comic book Non Stop Vinahouse to visitors at the exhibition - Photo: MINH DANG

On the evening of March 7th, the French Institute in Ho Chi Minh City opened an exhibition showcasing the Non Stop Vinahouse comic book project by artist Jean Houzard at Idecaf (31 Thai Van Lung Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City).

With a name that sounds very "Vietnamese," Non Stop Vinahouse is a comic book project that blends fictional and documentary elements, aiming to highlight Vinahouse, a free-spirited and distinctive Vietnamese music genre.

In recent years, Vinahouse has become very popular with young people in Vietnam. This genre is ubiquitous, and it's easy to hear Vinahouse music at parties, clubs, or restaurants. Vinahouse is also colloquially known as "dance music," referring to the House music genre that originated in the United States in the 1970s. Characterized by its fast tempo, powerful bass beats, and repetitive 4/4 rhythm, House music can instantly embed its distinctive sounds and rhythms into the listener's mind like an addiction, making it unforgettable. - Photo: MINH DANG

Because of its addictive nature, Vinahouse music spread rapidly and immediately captivated French artist Jean Houzard, becoming the inspiration for the first 10 pages of his comic book series, Non Stop Vinahouse . Speaking at the opening, Houzard said that Vinahouse is very new to Westerners and is the perfect material for his new work. He explored many bars across Vietnam to listen to Vinahouse and find a way to connect with the public. - Photo: MINH DANG

Houzard's story revolves around Antoine and Mathilde, a young French couple visiting Ho Chi Minh City. While exploring the city, Antoine falls in love with a new genre of music: Vinahouse. He's hooked, unable to get the lively melodies of this novel music out of his head. Gradually, Antoine embarks on a quest to discover Vinahouse in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. In the story we're reading, Antoine is so obsessed with Vinahouse that he can't sleep, having to search online in the middle of the night to find out what Vinahouse is. The Vietnamese translation is very witty. - Photo: MINH DANG

The exhibition attracted a large number of visitors. Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online , Matthias Fortune, a French stage director, said this was the first time he had heard Vinahouse music and he really enjoyed it. “This kind of music makes my mind go blank; I just let myself be carried away by the melody,” Fortune said. - Photo: MINH DANG

Author Jean Houzard told Tuoi Tre Online that it took him 2-3 weeks to find ideas for the story and 10 days to sketch the characters. Houzard hopes that after the exhibition ends (from March 7 to 17), a publisher will agree to publish the series. - Photo: MINH DANG

Jean Houzard's Non Stop Vinahouse comic project is part of the artist residency program at Villa Saigon. During his stay in Vietnam, Jean Houzard aims to explore more deeply the distinctive aspects of the vibrant Vinahouse music style: the burgeoning of new cultural practices, the adaptation to the space of Vietnamese youth, the constant transformation of the dynamic city (Ho Chi Minh City), and more broadly, Vietnamese culture reaching out to the world through music and art. - Photo: MINH DANG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-phuong-tay-me-vinahouse-20240308054648416.htm