Beauty will save the world: Eight artists from Southeast Asia

[Art]venture

Beauty will save the world: Eight artists from Southeast Asia

Art Nation
29.09.25

From 24 March to 16 May 2025, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery (Hong Kong) presented the exhibition “Beauty will save the world: Eight artists from Southeast Asia”, curated by Southeast Asian art expert Iola Lenzi.

Dinh Q. Le, “Untitled 10 (from Vietnam to Hollywood Series)” (2004), C-prints and linen tape, 85 x 171 cm. Photo: Dinh Q. Le and 10 Chancery Lane, Hong Kong.

Drawing inspiration from Dostoevsky’s novel “The idiot”, the exhibition features existing and newly commissioned works by three generations of contemporary artists from Southeast Asia, in which Vietnamese art is represented Vu Dan Tan (1946–2009), Dinh Q. Le (1968–2024), and Bui Cong Khanh (b. 1972). Together with artists from the Philippines, Myanmar, Indonesia and Cambodia, their works offer not only reflection and respite from the endless churning of the world, but also a radiant belief and hope that beauty will transcend all and uplift humanity.

Bui Cong Khanh, “Porcelain medals” (2018), porcelain, various sizes. Credit: Bui Cong Khanh and 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong Kong.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Dr Iola Lenzi also curated 10 Chancery Lane Gallery’s contribution to the Kabinett sector at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, featuring Vu Dan Tan’s seminal artworks “Money series (Hong Kong dollars)” (1997) and “Fashion” (2000–2006), on view from 28 to 30 March 2025.

Words & Translation: Ally Lê

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