Hanoi Future Art - Hanoi

The starting point of the project was a series of discussions between the participants. Robert A. Mody, who is a cognitive psychologist from Sweden, was actively involved in making the social reality of the artists into the main material and subject matter of the show. The challenge was later to do real artistic collaborations, which is not

common in Vietnam now, where individual production of commercial art works is the standard. So a different way of working had to be defined, and resulted in a series of collaborations between the artists in different constellations, such as the wall installation What? by Nguyen Khe, Phuong Vu Manh and Jes Brinch, The buffalo and the supermarket by Phuong Vu Manh, Robert A. Mody and Jes Brinch, and Reality Ricewine by Robert A. Mody and Jes Brinch.

Reality Ricewine by Robert A. Mody and Jes Brinch

Since collaboration between the artists was a positive challenge and not a dogma, space was left open for the artists to do individual projects as well. Phuong Vu Manh presented 3 solo works, Nguyen Khe presented a new solo work and Jes Brinch presented a collaboration project made with Art & Technology Laboratory. The entire process took place in an open and creative atmosphere.

Nguyen Khe: "The different ideas of our generation. That is always the question for us".

The story of Nguyen Khe

Nguyen Khe is a pseudonym for a 17 year old female Vietnamese artist, who was not allowed to take part in the exhibition by her father. Therefore she chose the alias Nguyen Khe, since she wanted to be part of the show anyway. Nguyen is the most common last name in Vietnam, and Khe means burnt rice. Her artwork bears the title The different ideas of our generation. That is always the question for us and directly confronts the generation gap and different realities and values of the old fashioned patriarchic Vietnam, and the ambitions and ideas of the young today. Nguyen Khe's project shows a great potential and is an impressive debut that Hanoi Future Art is proud to present. Hanoi Future Art is meant to be a platform for expression and experimentation for artists that would otherwise not have these possibilities.

Art & Technology Laboratory presented a collaboration made with Jes Brinch. It consists of 3 modified mannequin dolls. Kirk Evans and Leon Hiemstra, a Dutch engineer, came with a group of 7 technicians from KSE Medical that normally produces medical equipment for hospitals in Vietnam. It was a break from the daily routine, and an inspiring collaboration that all involved enjoyed. The vision of the Art & Technology Laboratory is grand, but surprisingly easy to realize. The intended synergy effect actually happened effortlessly. More projects by the Art & Technology Laboratory will be presented in the future.

Kirk Evans working on the dolls.

The head of the doll is rotating 360 degrees.		More work done on the dolls.

The result: 3 moving dolls.

Hanoi Future Art's opening show is a double exhibition, presenting 2 shows at one time: 1. What? is an exhibition made by Nguyen Khe (Vietnam), Phuong Vu Manh (Vietnam), Robert A. Mody (Sweden) and Jes Brinch (Denmark). 2. The Gun And The Girls by Phuong Vu Manh and Jes Brinch.

The exhibition poses the question about what is going on in Vietnam now. What is the relation between the past, the present and the future of Vietnam? What kind of reality is it? What dreams do people have? What is power? What values do people have here now? What kind of business is going on and not least how much does it cost.

What?, an exhibition made by Nguyen Khe (Vietnam), Phuong Vu Manh (Vietnam), Robert A. Mody (Sweden) and Jes Brinch (Denmark)		What?
What?

A special bonus show for the opening was The Gun And The Girls. The show was originally planned to take place at Mosaique Livingroom, a private club owned by an interior design company. The artists where invited to do the show in Mosaique Livingroom's elaborately decorated club, but decided to do the show at Hanoi Future Art instead when Mosaique Livingroom demanded that Vietnamese artist Phuong Vu Manh should donate a painting to the club as payment for the exhibition. Hanoi Future Art is a non-commercial and independent project, which will never ask anybody to pay to exhibit there, and therefore a better space for the show.

The theme of The Gun And The Girls is gender dichotomy between the male and the female. Phuong Vu Manh shows lacquer paintings of nude women as a stark contrast to Jes Brinch's humoristic piss takes on masculinity made as marble sculptures.

Girl by Phuong Vu Manh

The Rockstar and the transvestite. Gene Simmons and Amanda Lepore in marble by Jes Brinch.

The opening of Hanoi Future Art started at 15:00. The Vietnamese artists came early and enjoyed bia hoi (Vietnamese draft beer) in the garden where the beer pisser, a marble statue by Jes Brinch served the beer. The international crowd came later, and stayed long. After the opening an after party was held at Roots Bar.

The beerpisser in action. Maintained by Hang.

Vietnamese artists and foreigners in the beergarden.		2 Vietnamese gentlemen enjoying a beer in the garden.
2 Hanoi women and Trang from Sapa having some beers.

The atmosphere of the opening was good, and people where very enthusiastic about the opening of a new alternative art space, of which there is only a few in Hanoi.

A boy inspecting the creations of the Art & Technology Laboratory.

Artist Phuong Vu Manh discussing the show with an older colleague.		Young women contemplating Nguyen Khe's work.
2 Hanoi women and Trang from Sapa having some beers.		Nga (left) ardent supporter of Hanoi Future Art with a friend.

Everything is under the same roof at Hanoi Future Art's villa. The ground floor and first floor are dedicated to exhibition space, and to workshop spaces are on the third floor.