Author Archives: Art Nation

Saigon-Gia Dinh 1954–1975: A Southern Wave

The fine arts of Saigon-Gia Dinh between 1954–1975 was a distinctive trajectory, combining cultural traditions and spirits with choice elements from Western artistic canons,  constructing a unique aesthetic language in the wide landscape of Vietnamese modern art. Central to the emergence and consolidation of this regional art scene was the establishment of the Gia Dinh […]

Majestic shade: a mountain’s embrace

Nam Son, born Nguyen Van Tho (1899–1973)1, is regarded as one of the founding figures of modern Vietnamese art. He was a co-founder and core instructor at the Indochina School of Fine Arts. Born into a Confucian family in Hanoi, Nam Son exhibited a precocious talent for painting and was mentored by Confucian scholars such […]

Threads of continuity: Vietnam in the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art

Between 1993 and 2024, curatorial approaches evolved considerably, and the first three editions of the Triennial are often regarded as having forged the deepest bonds and relationships between the two nations. Interestingly, APT1, APT2 and APT3 highlighted the influence of folk and rural traditions, street culture and vernacular art forms on Vietnamese contemporary art. Although […]

Berlin’s Arts and Cultural Kaleidoscope

Cultural diversity One of Berlin’s most significant cultural milestones took place during the summer of 2023 when, for the first time, a German-Cameroon curator assumed the role of Artistic Director at the House of World Cultures (Haus der Kulturen der Welt – HKW). HKW, established in 1987, has been a pivotal national platform for contemporary […]

AirHue: When heritage and experimental cross path

Around the world, artist residency programmes boast a long and varied history, ranging from formal institutions within museums, such as the residency program funded by The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, to experimental models like A.R.C in Turkey, where artists live in caves and are provided boats for transportation. The target audiences […]

Seeking the middle path

Born and raised in Kim Long ward, Hue, Professor Thai Kim Lan has attended prestigious local institutions such as Dong Khanh, Quoc Hoc (National High School of Education), and Hue University of Literature. In 1965, she travelled to Germany on a DAAD scholarship under the German language training programme of the Goethe Institute in Saigon. […]

21 years of Galerie Quynh

The exhibition featured 16 artists, including familiar names represented by Galerie Quynh, as well as artists who have collaborated with the gallery in the past. Curated by Thai Ha, the exhibition offers a collective reflection and rediscovery of Vietnam’s two transformative decades through artistic practices as they continue to look towards the future. Words: BUC […]