From rice grains, duckweed to the dialogue between science and art

The exhibition “Toa V - Touch of Science” is an open and emotional dialogue space between science and art.

The exhibition “The Foliage V - The Touch of Science ” at the Vietnam Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) is attracting public attention.

The exhibition brings together nine representative artists of Vietnamese contemporary art, evoking reflections on the profound connection between knowledge, creativity and the future of humanity.

The exhibition space is designed as an “open mind map”. Viewers are not confined to a predetermined path but are encouraged to create their own route to contemplate through 5 “stations” - corresponding to 5 important scientific thinking areas.

Exhibition space “The Foliage V - The Touch of Science”. Photo: Ha Thao

Different from the linear display style, the “V” space is designed as an “open mind map”, encouraging viewers to create their own experience route through 5 scientific thinking stations.

Stopping at Station 1: Seeds of Life - Agricultural Science, the last works of the late artist Le Thiet Cuong take viewers back to their roots through the story of rice grains - the symbol of wet rice civilization.

Works about the memories of rice grains were created by the late artist Le Thiet Cuong. Photo: Y Yen

Next is Station 2: Life - Medicine for Humanity, where Le Giang and Le Dang Ninh examine the human body from birth to healing.

Meanwhile, at Station 3: Structures - Materials of the Future, Bui Quoc Khanh and Do Ha Hoai tell the story of smart matter by redefining matter.

Author Le Giang brings a work titled “142 orbits around the Earth”, inspired by the journey of Pham Tuan, the first Vietnamese astronaut to fly into space in 1980 and brought water fern for scientific experiments. Photo: Y Yen

The work at Station 4: The Domain of Consciousness - The Realm of Wisdom by Do Hiep and Pham Minh Hieu uses light and data as metaphors for wisdom.

Finally, Station 5: Source of Life - Environmental Science by Vu Binh Minh and Trinh Minh Tien, brings together works that emphasize the inevitable loop: humans cannot be separated from nature.

Le Dang Ninh's work "Wings" is made from vaccine vials, stretching like a timeline of the days when humanity was hurt by the pandemic. Photo: Y Yen

Installation work "Farm" by Do Ha Hoai. Photo: Le Thuy

Do Hiep's works, using Eastern philosophical and folklore symbols, evoke the relationship between the inner self and the surrounding world , between individual knowledge and collective experience. Photo: Y Yen

Sharing about the intersection between art and science, artist Do Hiep said that scientists are also artists. The moment a scientist reaches a state of sublimation in research is similar to when an artist reaches the peak of creativity.

According to him, science provides material solutions to humanity, while art nourishes the spirit. That is why the intersection of the two fields is extremely natural.

This year's exhibition shows that artists can approach a topic in the same way as scientists: taking on a problem, finding a solution, and when successful, opening up a new perspective.

Artwork display space at the exhibition. Photo: Ha Thao

To realize a large-scale and meaningful exhibition like “Toa V”, the preparation process is a long journey of research and empathy.

Curator Do Tuong Linh emotionally shared about the time he spent with artists, especially the days working with the late artist Le Thiet Cuong before his death: “It is these creative journeys that have opened up rich approaches to the relationship between science and art. I believe that from these intersections, we can move towards a more diverse, open and sustainable future of knowledge.”

Ms. Nguyen Tra My - Director of VCCA expressed her hope that this event will initiate deeper dialogues between fields, while also suggesting new directions for Art-Science practice in Vietnam.

Along with the exhibition "Toa V - Scientific Touch" is a series of diverse experiential activities such as art talks and art tours, aiming to bring scientific and artistic concepts closer to the public.

The exhibition “Toa V - Touch of Science” is a special art event within the framework of VinFuture Science and Technology Week 2025, marking the 5th anniversary of the VinFuture Award as well as 5 seasons of the “Toa” exhibition of VCCA.

The exhibition is open to the public free of charge from December 2, 2025, to February 28, 2026. Visitors can visit from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily.

Y YEN

Source: https://laodong.vn/du-lich/kham-pha/tu-hat-gao-beo-hoa-dau-den-cuoc-doi-thoai-giua-khoa-hoc-va-nghe-thuat-1618996.html