Narratives across time and materials

NDO - In Hanoi, the Vietnam Art Collection (VAC) recently held a contemporary art workshop for two female artists, Diane Severin Nguyen and Thuy Tien. This is the result of a three-month residency and creative period for the artists, opening up multi-dimensional stories about time, memory, and transformation through photography, video, and sculpture.

Time, change, and contradictions are common themes that Diane and Thuy Tien are interested in and explore .

Diane Severin Nguyen's "Spring Snow" opens up a fantastical space where seemingly contrasting images blend together spontaneously. Diane's photography and video are distinctly surreal, with frames of gently falling snow covering tropical leaves, golden grapefruit, and vibrant red dragon fruit.

This scene interweaves special dates in history and personal memories such as April 30th, August 8th, and December 22nd, evoking a highly symbolic space of time, memory, and history. Simultaneously, the two-channel video, with its repeated images of girls in old costumes, combined with Vietnamese and Western pop music interspersed with profound silences, creates a sense of nostalgia and a yearning to transcend the invisible boundaries of time and space.

In contrast to Diane's surrealism, artist Thuy Tien in "Rainy Clouds" chooses to delve into the essence of the material. She creates a profound dialogue between personal memory, family history, and a broader cultural context. At the heart of Tien's work are structures made of ironwood, which carry the mark of pride and heritage, but are now transformed into mysterious, fragile, and contemplative forms.

Another remarkable piece by her is the MIDI sound of the song "I Wish," echoing from behind the cabinet, its melody repeating like fading memories. Thuy Tien skillfully combines contrasting materials such as the solidity of teak wood with the melting of sugar or the delicate tension of spandex fabric, making viewers both nostalgic and confronting the invisible pressures within the family space.

Diane Severin Nguyen, a Guggenheim Fellowship recipient, is renowned for her international exhibitions at MoMA PS1, Whitney, and major film festivals in New York and Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, Thuy Tien and Zhang Wanwen, who currently live and work between Vietnam, Germany, and China, have been collaborating creatively since 2024, demonstrated through the sharing and transformation of memories in their joint art projects.

A special highlight of the event was the participation of guest artist Zhang Wanwen (China), whose work was displayed on the 5th floor. She utilized recycled wooden planks from old furniture as frames, presenting four new sets of paintings that reflect complex inner lives through the familiar space of mahjong parlors. These works question adaptation, adjustment, and preservation within a constantly changing cultural context.

Diane Severin Nguyen and Thuy Tien's Workshop Open event was not just an art exhibition, but also a profound encounter with time, space, and memory, opening up questions about existence, transformation, and contradictions in modern life.

The exhibition is located at 6/44/11 To Ngoc Van Street (Tay Ho District, Hanoi), open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, until April 20th.

Here are some photos from the event.

Diane Severin Nguyen's artwork, "The Spring Coat."

Artist Thuy Tien stands beside one of her unfinished artworks.

The artwork "The Sea Lulls the Sandy Shore" by Thuy Tien.

Artwork by guest artist Wanwen.

Spectators tour the workshop.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nhung-tu-su-xuyen-thoi-gian-va-vat-lieu-post871574.html