Happy Year of the Horse with Fireworks in Hanoi and HCMC

A great year of Snake is about to pass! And the Hanoi Grapevine team would like to say thanks to all of you for your support throughout the whole year. May the year of Horse bring you good luck, health, wealth, success and happiness!

Meanwhile, if you are planning to celebrate Lunar New Year’s Eve among the crowds, here are the places to catch the fireworks shows in Hanoi and HCMC:

In Hanoi:

5 high-range fireworks shows at Hoan Kiem Lake (Hoan Kiem Dist.), Thong Nhat Park (Hai Ba Trung Dist.), Lac Long Quan Flower Garden (Tay Ho Dist.), Van Quan Lake (Ha Dong Dist.) and My Dinh National Stadium (Tu Liem Dist.)

24 low-range fireworks shows in the Districts of Ba Dinh, Hoang Mai, Long Bien, Dong Da, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan, Gia Lam, Me Linh, Ba Vi, Dan Phuong, Thach That, Chuong My, Thuong Tin, Quoc Oai, Phu Xuyen, My Duc, Ung Hoa, Dong Anh, Soc Son, Phuc Tho, Thanh Oai, Hoai Duc, Thanh Tri and Son Tay.

In HCMC:

2 high-range fireworks shows at Saigon River Tunnel (Dist. 2) and National Historical – Cultural Park (Dist. 9)

4 low-range fireworks shows in the Districts of Cu Chi, Binh Chanh, Hoc Mon and Can Gio.

Music Night with The Electric Yard Dogs

Mon 27 Jan 2014, 9 pm

Zone 17

17D Hong Ha, Hanoi

In various incarnations The Electric Yard Dogs have been hanging out in Hanoi for over five years. After the success of their tours in Saigon and Phnom Penh, original members Jez Hartley and Simon ‘Otis’ Redington, who hail from the ‘70s Punk Rock era in London have now been joined by Chris, Mike and Bill on bass, drums and congas respectively in a new revitalised Rock’n’Roll Band.

The music is a highly danceable mix of fast rock, rhythm and swing, a style reminiscent of Dr Feelgood, the Texas Barroom Blues of Stevie Ray Vaughan and the Fabulous Thunderbirds with a touch of Chuck Berry and Jimmy Reed thrown in for the hell of it!

Free admission.

HCMC – Afro Sunday with Ray Lugo

Sun 26 Jan 2014, from 5 pm

The Observatory

Corner of Le Lai and Ton That Tung, Dist.1, HCMC

Forget the blues – Sunday January 26th is a day everyone can be very excited about because we’ve got Ray Lugo – frontman and founder of the world-renowned Kokolo Afrobeat Orchestra – laying down a tropical, rhythm-driving mashup of a DJ set at The Observatory.

Ray Lugo was a key figure in the early New York Afrobeat scene that went on to spur the current global Afrobeat revival movement that is shaking parties and bakassis the world over. His participation and exposure to so much diverse and vibrant music has left him with a collection of sounds that are going to be very hard to resist moving to.

With support from Dan Lo and some surprise acoustic collaborations, this is a night to get down, drink some mojitos and celebrate your life in the tropics with the music that was MADE for it.

Entrance: Free

A Night of Poetry & Butoh

Sat 25 Jan 2014, 8.30 pm

Manzi Art Space

14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi

“Fifty years ago, a man wrote a love poem for his lover on her birthday!

Now, a requiem for the lost youth of love?”

‘And butoh? – The poems of No Man’s Land – where twilights and black tinkles have come from”

For the first time ever, Hanoi art lovers will have chance to experience an amazing collaboration of legendary poet Duong Tuong and Butoh dancer Siu Pham at manzi. This is an exploration of the two into the surreal world of words and physical movements.

Free entry.

Due to limited capacity, please pre-register at manzihanoi@gmail.com before 3PM Thurs, 23 Jan 2014

Screening of Four Documentary Films at TPD

Screening of Jiro Dreams of Sushi: Thu 23 Jan 2014, 7.30 pm

Screening of War Photographer: Fri 24 Jan 2014, 7.30 pm

Screening of Inside Job: Sat 25 Jan 2014, 2 pm

Screening of The Act of Killing ( English subtitle): Sat 25 Jan 2014, 7.30 pm

Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents

51 Tran Hung Dao Str (4th floor), Hanoi

For the needs of “We Are Filmmakers” trainees and to broaden the knowledge of audience about documentary film, from 23 23 – 25 Jan 2014, TPD center will hold the foreign documentary film week which includes: Jiro DREAMS OF SUSHI, WAR PHOTOGRAPHER, INSIDE JOB, THE ACT OF KILLING. All the screenings are open to the public with the purpose of fundraising for young filmmakers.

About films

1. JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI

JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is a 2011 American documentary film directed by David Gelb. The film follows Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi master and owner of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin three-star restaurant, on his continuing quest to perfect the art of sushi. The film also profiles Jiro’s two sons, both of whom are also sushi chefs.

The younger son, Takashi, left Sukiyabashi Jiro to open a mirror image of his father’s restaurant in Roppongi Hills. The 50-year-old elder son, Yoshikazu, obligated to succeed his father, still works for Jiro and is faced with the prospect of one day taking over the flagship restaurant.

2. WAR PHOTOGRAPHER

WAR PHOTOGRAPHER is a documentary by Christian Frei about the photographer James Nachtwey. As well as telling the story of an iconic man in the field of war photography, the film addresses the broader scope of ideas common to all those involved in war journalism, as well as the issues that they cover.

The documentary won a 2003 Peabody Award, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2002 and an Emmy Award in 2004. It also won or was nominated for more than 40 other awards internationally.

3. INSIDE JOB

INSIDE JOB is a 2010 documentary film about the late-2000s financial crisis directed by Charles H. Ferguson. The film is described by Ferguson as being about “the systemic corruption of the United States by the financial services industry and the consequences of that systemic corruption.” In five parts, the film explores how changes in the policy environment and banking practices helped create the financial crisis.

INSIDE JOB was well received by film critics who praised its pacing, research, and exposition of complex material. The film was screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival in May and won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

4. THE ACT OF KILLING

The Act of Killing (Indonesian: Jagal) is a 2012 documentary film directed by Joshua Oppenheimer, and co-directed by Christine Cynn and an anonymous Indonesian.

This is a documentary that challenges former Indonesian death squad leaders to reenact their real-life mass-killings in whichever cinematic genres they wish, including classic Hollywood crime scenarios and lavish musical numbers.

It is a Docwest project of the University of Westminster. It won the 2013 European Film Award for Best Documentary, the Asia Pacific Screen Award, and has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature at the 86th Academy Awards.

HCMC – Open Studio: Lab Session 4 & Guest Lab Artist’s Talk: Frederic Sanchez

A talk by guest Lab artist: Frederic Sanchez: Sat 25 Jan 2014, 4 pm

Open studio: Sat 25 Jan 2014, 5.30 pm

Sàn Art Laboratory

40/18 Pham Viet Chanh Street, District Binh Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City

The day will also feature French/Vietnamese guest Lab artist Frederic Sanchez (currently based in Shanghai) who will talk about curatorial projects that he has developed in parallel of his artwork. He will also introduce his upcoming project: “Red”, a Monochrome exhibition at The Observatory, HCMC.

Then welcome you to the artists-in-residence of the 4th session of ‘Sàn Art Laboratory’: Le Phi Long (Hue-HCMC), Lai Dieu Ha (Ha Noi) and Nguyen Van Du (Ho Chi Minh City) who began their 6 month residency on the 6th December, 2013.

After initial research and experiment, the artists are ready to reveal their first explorations to public in an OPEN STUDIO on January 25th, 5.30pm.

Come visit Phi Long who will share Ho Chi Minh City’s story of 300-year development, as he’s working with inspiration from rice, green spaces, geology and his vision for a more sustainable urban life. Dieu Ha will treat visitors with walnut seeds, a form that explains her interest in human psychology and mental trauma of those who suffer from divorce, how it influences their children, and her seeking of a possible relief therapy. Van Du explores another extreme of life – death, violence and existence – through images of slaughter from a butchery, of which findings will be shared through his notes, sketches, research documents, video and previous artwork.

African Night with Musbaba

Sat 25 Jan 2014, 8 pm

Chez Xuan

41/76 An Duong, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Come to an African night, a live malian music performance with Musbaba.

Free entrance.    

Music Nights with South Rakkas (Mad Decent) and Heems (Das Racist)

Music Night with South Rakkas (Mad Decent): Thu 23 Jan 2014, 9 pm

Music Night with Heems (Das Racist): Fri 24 Jan 2014, 9 pm

ATK

73a Mai Hac De, Hanoi

Music Night with South Rakkas (Mad Decent)

Prepare yourself for a workout of electro-dancehall Mad Decent proportions, as the man who pioneered that genre stops by Hanoi for an awesome night of Jamaican soundclash culture fused with electronic beats. Jamaican-born and Florida living, this is none other than South Rakkas, known for his hook-laden song structures, filthy soundsystem beats and killer rhythms.

Read an interview with him here.

Music Night with Heems (Das Racist)

Heems (Das Racist)

Watch out! Hip hop in Hanoi!! Heems of Das Racist fame will be blazing for what will undoubtedly be the best live event to look forward to so far in 2014. Heems will rip up the night with electrified bangers, certain to be a rammed and intense night in the intimate walls.

Listen to South Rakkas’s music on Soundcloud.

Heems solo mixtape site

Tickets: VNĐ 100,000/night OR SPECIAL DEAL: SOUTH RAKKAS with HEEMS (JAN 24) together for VND 150,000 (advance)

Acoustic Garden Session with Scott Allan Knost

Fri 24 Jan 2014, 9 pm

Hanoi Rock City

27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

HRC welcome back the Wichita singer/song writer SAK for a special Acoustic Garden Session this weekend. The solo artist has been building his fans through out Asia over the last world tour, including a debut at HRC in 2011. Scott Allan Knost has barely put down his guitar over the past eight and half years, boasting over 1000 shows, sharing the stage with Martin Sexton, Uncle Kracker, Rehab, Casey Donahew, Andy Griggs, L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, Britny Fox, Jackson Taylor & The Sinners, Mike McClure, Sunny Ledfurd, Truckstop Honeymoon, John Berry & Buddy Jewell.

Incorporating looping, delay, and swirling harmonies built in real time, SAK presents catchy tunes, clever lyrics and master performance that will have you convinced there’s an entire band on stage. Expect an intimate and engaging performance of original work with choice interpretations of Cyndi Lauper, John Mayer, MGMT and Prince, to name a few.

FREE ENTRY + Mulled wine @ VND60K

Hue – Exhibition “Imagination of Disappearing”

Opening: Fri 24 Jan, 5 pm

Exhibition: 24 Jan – 14 Feb 2014

New Space Arts Foundation

2nd Floor, Number 15 Le Loi, Hue City

You are invited to the art exhibition “Imagination of disappearing” by artist Marija Lopac (Croatia).

Graphic-linocut monotypes ( in paper) in forms of circle. Circles in diferent size and colour. Making variable composition depends of colours and sizes. Irregular, but predominantly horizontal – making frieze in wall/ space/ gallery , dimensions variable.

Tehnique – mixed ( linocut in paper, collages, neon acrilic)

Paste circles in wall, one to another, in shape, Irregular horizontal.

Name of work is line up because graphic are recognition, imagination. Every linocut ( author imprint 1/1) have different activity in our eyes and mind when its paste in another bigger circles and another colours . Also because of neon colours,(every graphis circles is painted in neon acrilic also) in dark its another view- composition.

What is true mind / view, realisation? Everything changes, depends of which side we see.

Workshop of Exhibition Destination II

Workshop: 23 and 24 Jan 2014, 10 am

6th floor, Block D3

Department of Arts, Hanoi National University of Education

136 Xuan Thuy Str, Hanoi

In two days, painters and fine arts photographers from Vietnam, Malaysia and the US will exchange and create together art works in diversity: paintings, printmaking, fine arts photographs and body art.

All the completed art works will be presented at the art talk, from 2pm, 26th, January, 2014, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

The program is supported by the Arts Department and the National University of Education.

All the artists and the Organization Board wish to welcome the public and other Vietnamese artists at the workshop.

Annual Two Day Tet Festival at Bookworm

25 and 26 Jan 2014

Bookworm

44 Châu Long, Hà Nội

Bookworm Too

Lane 1/28, Nghi Tam Village, Hanoi

Live: 1pm to 4pm

Traditional Caligrapher

Lunar Animal Print Maker

Bánh chưng ( Têt Cake) maker (Sunday only)

To He (Stick Rice Figures)

TRADITIONAL MUSIC ENSEMBLE 2pm to 4pm

Tet toys, Cham Ethnic lunar animals, Tet animal balloons

Rice wine tasting, hot mulled wine and Tet cookies

BOOKWORM DISCOUNT:

30% off all 2nd hand books/ 15% off children’s books/ 10% off new books except commission stock.

Make Like A Tree at Hanoi Rock City

Sat 18 Jan 2014, 9 pm

Hanoi Rock City

27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

After Hanoi Social Club, Make Like A Tree’s front man Sergey Onischenko is playing another show at Hanoi Rock City.

Sergey Onischenko, indie beard rocker hits Hanoi for his South East Asia tour. The acoustic indie front man of Make Like A Tree from Ukraine will make his debut on HRC’s stage on Saturday.

We may be lucky enough to also have a sneak view on some art exposition from photos along Sergey’s journeys.

Art exposition:

http://onisch.tumblr.com/

Music: https://soundcloud.com/makelikeatree

https://myspace.com/makelikeatree

http://vk.com/makelikeatree

https://www.youtube.com/user/OnischenkoSergey

Free entry

The Metropole Tet Market

24 – 26 Jan 2014, 4 – 8 pm

Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi

15 Ngo Quyen Str, Hanoi

The Metropole Tet market will be set up in the hotel courtyard several days before the Vietnamese New Year (January 24-26 from 4-8pm), providing a window into Hanoians’ everyday tradition.

Here, the spirit of the old Vietnamese market is fully restored through dragon dancing and traditionally-dressed vendors in bamboo stalls singing time-honored chants while selling food, handicrafts and colourful paintings. From the outdoor market, guests can then duck into Spices Garden, our gourmet Vietnamese restaurant, to explore more Tet culture riches with traditional music and cuisine.

Two Special Screenings of Súp Video Soup Vol. 1

Screening ‘Artist Film International 2013’: Sat 18 Jan 2013, 6.30 pm

Screening ‘5 Emerging Experimental Filmmakers of Hanoi’: Sun 19 Jan 2013, 6.30 pm

Goethe-Institut Hanoi

56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học

Ba Đình, Hà Nội

In collaboration with 14 other international institutions, Hanoi Doclab presents Artists’ Film International (AFI) 2013, a touring program of video art organized by the Whitechapel Gallery in London. Every year, each program partner selects one video work by an artist from their country in order to create an international pool of videos that aims to offer an overview of contemporary video art and its diverse formats.

Past AFI editions have presented works by Vietnamese video artists Phu Nam Thuc Ha, Tuan Andrew Nguyen, Dinh Q Le, and Nguyen Trinh Thi. For this edition, San Art nominated “The City & the City” by Hong-An Truong (in collaboration with Dwayne Dixon).

This Súp Video Soup screening presents a selection of 8 works by Neha Choksi, Alix Pearstein, Nasan Tur, Ana Gallardo, Rahraw Omarzad, Morgan Wong, Hong-An Truong và Dwayne Dixon.

To close our 10-day eventful Súp Video Soup Vol.1, Hanoi Doclab is presenting an exciting screening of films by 5 emerging experimental filmmakers of Hanoi, who belong to what might come to be described as the first generation of the Vietnamese experimental film.

What are they seeing? How are they seeing it? Why do they make films they way they do?

Perhaps it is, to these young filmmakers, the old models no longer satisfy the ways in which they must interact visually with the world evolving around them. When the social landscape is shifting – as it must – then the ways of seeing, ‘how’ something is looked at, must change too. This is the reinvention, the experimental creation of a new way of telling. Here is an invitation to reconsider the patterns that blur before us everyday. These selected filmmakers are, through their repeated experiments in films, beginning to create a non-narrative, personal and intuitive approach to describing their own experiences and ours as well.

Our 5 filmmakers are: Nguyễn Thuỷ Tiên, Khổng Việt Bách, Chu Kim Đức, Nguyễn Hoàng Giang, and Đỗ Hà Thu.

Đỗ Hà Thu was born in 1987. She has joined many filmmaking workshops at Doclab since 2011. She likes creative and community works.

Nguyễn Hoàng Giang was born in 1989. He participated in TPD’s ‘We are Filmmakers’ program, and studied documentary filmmaking with Doclab in 2012. Currently he’s a freelance filmmaker and also pursues art projects from installation to photography.

Chu Kim Đức was born in 1980. She graduated from Hanoi Architecture College, and received her Master’s in Architecture in France. She has joined different film workshops at Doclab since 2012, and is determined to pursue the career of an independent filmmaker.

Khổng Việt Bách was born in 1983. He graduated from Hanoi Architecture College. He learned filmmaking at Doclab since 2012, and has been experimenting with both video and photography.

Nguyễn Thuỷ Tiên was born in 1993. She’s studying Photography at Hanoi Cinema College. 2013 was a year full of new experiences for her: She joined Doclab’s Photography workshop with Jamie Maxtone-Graham, had a group show, ‘Autopsy of Days’, with her series of family members; ‘Open Studio’ at Nha San Collective; and participated in Angkor Photo Festival workshop.

Closing Night of 15+ at Nhà Sàn Studio

Fri 17 Jan 2014, 6 – 10 pm

Nha San Studio

Tổ 50, Cụm 5, Vĩnh Phúc, Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Dear friends, thank you so much for your love. We have had beautiful birthday parties, inspiring talks and a nice journey to the mountain with interesting performances…

This Friday, 17 Jan 2014, from 6:00 pm to 10:00pm we invite you to our last event of the program, the last party at Nhà Sàn Studio, tổ 50 cụm 5 Vĩnh Phúc, Ba Đình, Hà Nội.

We will present a documentation film of Nhà Sàn activities in 15 years, a documentation film of project Skylines With Flying People, videos of performance events, etc… and an open conversation with the first generation of Nhà Sàn artists, such as Nguyễn Mạnh Đức, Trần Lương, Sơn X, Quách Đông Phương, as well as the next generation, Nhà Sàn Collective artists.

Tet Market

16 – 19 Jan 2014, 8 am – 5 pm

Đờ Luých Art Bar

19B lane 12 Đặng Thai Mai, Tay Ho Dist, Hanoi

Come to Tet Market with handmade products, fashion items, jewelry, home decor and accessories, Vietnamese specialties and mulled wine … 4 days only.

No entrance fee.

Screening of “Paulette”

Fri 24 Jan 2014, 8 pm

L’Espace

24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

You are invited to the film screening “Paulette” (French, 2013, 87 mins) directed by Jérôme Enrico. This is “a modern comedy that explodes in all aspects.”

For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post.

Language: French with Vietnamese subtitle.

Tickets:

Ticket price: 40 000 VND

Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 20 000 VND

Tickets are available at L’Espace.

HCMC – Saigon Comedy Nights – Apocalaughs Now

Tue 21 Jan 2014, 8 pm

Q4 / Cargo Bar

7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, D.4, HCMC

Professional alternative stand-up comedy returns to Saigon this month on Tuesday Jan. 21. Well-known accomplished comics Glenn Wool (Canada) and Mandy Knight (UK) will be flying into Saigon as part of a Southeast Asian tour that takes in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Jakarta, Bali and Ho Chi Minh City.

These are both top-notch comics — Mandy Knight presently holds the UK Time Out award for the best female comic while Glenn Wool, with his unique persona is an industry favourite with accolades and TV appearances longer than his arm.

For further information email: saigoncomedynights@gmail.com.

The entrance surcharge is VND250,000 and includes a free icy cold Magners cider.

HCMC – ‘Encounter’ Presents Two Lectures by Thanes Wongyannava

First lecture: The art of Buddhocentrism | Thu 16 Jan 2014, 6.30 – 8.30 pm

Second lecture: Truth, Self and Buddhocentrism | Tue 21 Jan 2014, 6.30 – 8.30 pm

Rm NZ0204 (2nd Floor)

Hoa Sen University

8 Nguyen Van Trang Street, W. Ben Thanh, District 1, HCMC

‘ENCOUNTER’ talk series welcomes Thanes Wongyannava, Associate Professor from Thammasat University, Bangkok. He will be conducting two lectures on ‘Buddhocentrism’.

Thanes Wongyannava will discuss his ideas concerning ‘Buddhocentrism’, which embraces the idea of Buddhism as a system of ideas in contemporary life that has moved away from a focus on ‘enlightenment’ towards a belief in all things ‘delightful’ – meaning a focus on anything that entertains, satiates desire and is popularly in demand. He will look at how visual art illustrates such attitude, including an examination of how we understand the ‘self’ and ‘truth’ within such society.

Thanes Wongyannava (b. 1957), Associate Professor of Political Science, is a sociologist by training from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand; University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Cambridge University. He has been teaching politics and philosophy at the Faculty of Political Science, Thammasat University for three decades, and is also an editor for ‘Political Science Journal’ for almost two decades. Apart from writing on social and political theory of the twentieth and twenty-first century, he has also covered other diverse topics such as social history, Italian food in Bangkok and film critique on weekly newspapers. His latest book on Max Weber’s Politics as a Vocation and Asceticism was recently launched in June 2013. Thanes has also written articles for Thai artists, including Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook and Natee Utarit. His latest article is “Natee Utarit: Persecution and the Art of Painting” in Natee Utarit: Illustration of Crisis.

Cabaret Night in January

Sat 18 Jan 2014, 8.30 – 9.30 pm

L’Espace

24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

Cabaret Night at L’Espace is the stage for new music talents. Come here to enjoy great drinks and listen to fabulous French, English and Vietnamese songs.

If you are a song-writer, singer or you can sing in French, Vietnamese or English, contact Cédric Drouard to participate in the Cabaret Music Night at L’Espace: cedminimum@hotmail.fr

Free admission.

Group Exhibition “Destination II”

Opening: Wed 22 Jan, 5 – 8 pm

Exhibition: 22 – 26 Jan 2014

Art talk: Sun 26 Jan, 2 pm

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St.

Hanoi

—

Workshop: 23 and 24 Jan 2014

Hanoi National University of Education

136 Xuan Thuy Str, Hanoi

Destination I, organized two years ago at the same place, included 7 painters from Malaysia and Vietnam and only paintings. Therefore, Destination II can be seen as a next successful step with participation from 3 U.S.artists as well as with two more fields of visual arts: fine art photography and installation art.

* The exhibition is the second result of the co-operation between Vietnamese and foreign artists and a Vietnamese art dealer/curator for the organization of a series of international art exchanges between Vietnamese artists and their audience and colleagues at home and abroad.

* It is the first time that fine art photographs will be exhibited in Asia that are abstract expressions derived from the glass creations of Louis Comfort Tiffany, American’s best known art glass designer.

* The exhibition, themed Inner Freedom, includes 38 new art works of 3 American and Malaysian fine art photographer/artists and 7 painters from the US, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Fine art photography has been very new to Vietnamese photographers and audience. And in the exhibit, they can have interesting references from 14 of the art works from Malaysia and the U.S. Atiqah Yusof (Malaysia) selects dry trees as her main subject. She took photos of them in different places, using certain digital interference for new visual effect, sharing her own messages on the death and the revival of the Nature. It is the first time that John D’Agostino from the U.S. brings to Hanoi his photograph creations based on Tiffany’s well known glass work. His unique interpretations suggest different aesthetic feelings and metaphors beyond the utilitarian appearance and utility of the original glass work. such as contemporary art works on the historical background. Also from the U.S. Larry D’Attilio has been inspired by Vietnamese women’s vitality. He empathizes with their thoughtfulness, strength, romance, happiness and self-confidence and expesses the emotional tensions of each women through abstracted constructed photographic design.

The theme Inner Freedom is a fulcrum for the curator to work with artists in selecting art works or creating completely new ones, in the case of painter Ngo Hai Yen (Vietnam). It is very interesting that most of the art works in the exhibition reference portraits of people in some degree. Multi-faced portraits by Brant Kingman (the U.S.), obsessional eyes by Dang Tu Thu (Vietnam), mask-like portraits dimmed in context by Yusof Ghani (Malaysia), many faces happy or sad with living days by Ngo Van Sac (Vietnam), all bring to the audience core inner moments. Coming to the great sympathy with the life, one can be find one’s own inner freedom. More over, art works can share and inspire the public to a world of freedom in one’s spirit. This is always in minds and hearts of artists participating in the exhibition even though they understand well it is never an easy goal.

The exhibition is sponsored and supported by the Department of Arts – the Hanoi National University of Education, all participating artists, Greater Milwaukee Foundation’s Mary L. Nohl Suitcase Fund, Mr Tom Linzmeier, and an American Donor through Fractured Atlas.

Further information on the exhibition and related activities is available at: www.art-tngs.com

On the exhibition organizer: Nguyen Tam (born in 1978) has been working in the art market for many years. She works as art representative for a number of artists in Hanoi. She wishes to contribute to building up the art market for the strongest avant – garde work in Vietnam. She does business in art in co-operation with a number of art galleries, and local and foreign art collectors in the USA, Belgium, Germany and other countries.

Pa Cheo Charity Program

18 and 19 Jan 2014

Circle of Friends – youth volunteer organization would like to respectfully appeal for supports and contributions to Pa Cheo charity program scheduled to be organized on January 18 & 19, 2014 for 54 poor ethnic H’Mong families and 120 H’Mong secondary school students in Pa Cheo commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province.

Circle of Friends call for the following donation items below for those underprivileged people and children.

• 350 warm coats, 54 gifts for Lunar Tet and 54 warm blankets for the families in Xeo Pa Cheo village.

• 4 bookcases and 260 reference books (non-textbooks) in different categories and subjects for 120 students at the 6th and 7th grades at Pa Cheo secondary school,

• 350 pair of winter socks, 350 kits of daily care supplies (including toothbrush, toothpaste, and soap) & school supplies, teaching and learning materials to 120 pupils.

• Used television set, computers to Pa Cheo ethnic boarding secondary school.

Your generous contributions can be made in the two following forms.

In cash: to cover the program operation costs and to buy the necessities and gifts mentioned above.

In kinds:

• New/used warm coats, socks, hats, scarves (clean and good conditions)

• New/used books, children’s books, school supplies for pupils of the 6thand 7th grades

• New/used computers, televisions, bookcases

• Tet gifts such as packs of instant noodles, bottles of cooking oil, etc.

Due date for in-kind and cash donations is no later than 17:00 on January 16 and 12:00 p.m., January 17 respectively for our better logistics arrangements.

Pa Cheo Charity Program 1

We look forward to your contributions and thank you for your support.

About Pa Cheo village

Xeo Pa Cheo village is located in Pa Cheo commune, Bat Xat district in the North East of Vietnam. Pa Cheo commune in the 40 km South of the district center has the estimate terrain elevation above the sea water level of 1,397 meters and is surrounded by high mountain ranges. So it is quite difficult to access to it by road. Pa Cheo commune has been quite seriously damaged by the heavy snowfall that poured last December. 70 percent of the residents’ cardamom forest was lost. Last August, their farming areas were also affected by flash floods. Xeo Pa Cheo village is inhabited by 54 poor families of ethnic H’Mong group, one of the poorest villages in Pa Cheo commune. Due to the geographical complexity, no automobile vehicles are able to access to the village.

About Pa Cheo ethnic boarding secondary school

Pa Cheo ethnic boarding secondary school has 246 pupils in total, out of which 120 children study at the 6th and 7th grade class. Most of them come from poor families who live on farming activities. Principal Phuong Viet Cuong, who has been working here for the past eight years, said to us that the snowfall has considerably affected our school facilities. Teaching and learning conditions face lots of difficulties. Many of our students have to walk more than 10 km to school while wearing old frayed clothes and worn slippers in such freezing winter. We need more help from the public.

For financial contributions, please make wire transfer to:

Account Number: 0011000451214 | Account Holder: Luu Thi Thanh Loan

Bank name: Vietcombank | Bank address: 198 Tran Quang Khai Street, Hanoi

Transfer description: Donations to “Pa Cheo”

Please leave your name, email and/or telephone number, and the donation amount to Ms Thanh Loan via email at luu.thanh.loan@vongtaybeban.info for our checking and records.

For in-kind donations, please deliver them to the following addresses:

Thanh Xuan District | Address: B8-TT14 Van Quan urban area, Nguyen Trai street

Contact: Ms Nguyen Thi Nhan | Cell: 0915 360 888

Dong Da District | Address: 129/129 Giang Vo Street

Contact: Ms Nguyen Thu Phuong | Cell: 0165 932 6433

Cau Giay District | 15C, Lane 118, Cau Giay street

Contact: Mr Do Anh Quan | Cell: 0917 764 301

HCMC – Sounds from Macedonia

Sun 19 Jan 2014, 8 pm

HCMC Opera House

No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC

You are invited to the special concert titled “SOUNDS FROM MACEDONIA” with the participation of two young but extremely talented violinists from Macedonia: Eni Vucidolova and Eva Bogoevska. The program is choreographed by conductor Le Phi Phi, a Vietnamese maestro who has already established strong international reputation and greatly contributed to the art of music in Vietnam.

The famous works in Moroccan and Romantic era will be preformed, that promises an enjoyable and attractive program.

Conductor: Lê Phi Phi

Violin: Eni Vucidolova

Violin: Eva Bogoevska

HBSO Symphony Orchestra

PROGRAM

PART I:

George Frideric Handel Water music Suite No.2 in D Major, HWV 349

I. Overture

II. Alla hornpipe

III. Menuet

IV. Lentement

V. Bourrée

Johann Sebastien Bach Concerto for violin and orchestra in A Minor, BWV 1041

I. Allegro

II. Andante

III. Allegro assai

PART II:

Max Bruch Concerto for violin and orchestra No.1 in G Minor op. 26

I. Prelude: Allegro moderato

II. Adagio

III. Finale: Allegro energico

Richard Wagner Overture “The mastersingers of Nuremberg”

Tickets

Ticket price: 400,000 – 350,000 – 200,000 – 80,000 VND (for students only)

All tickets are available at:

Ticket Counter, HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC. Email: info@hbso.org.vn.

Booking and delivery: 08 3823 7419; Mr.Luân: 0903041959

Taiwanese Artists Talk about Residence Program at Muong Studio

Sun 19 Jan 2013, 10 am

Goethe-Institut Hanoi

56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học

Ba Đình, Hà Nội

Muong Studio presents a very special talk with artists of the group Outsiders Factory from Taiwan on the occasion of their residence program at Muong Studio this month.

The talk will start by a presentation of Yipei LEE – Curator of group Outsiders Factory – about the landscape of Contemporary Arts in Taiwan, experiences and effects of art exchange activities with Vietnam in current time. After that, members of group will share their idea of work that they do for this residence program, thinkings and feelings after two week staying and working at Muong Studio. Talk will be run by curator Nguyen Anh Tuan.

Artists of Outsiders Factory participate into Residence program at Muong Studio:

Lee Yipei, Curator

Sun Yi-cheng (female), assistant

Chang En-Man (female), artist

Huang Pochih (male), artist

Lin Chenwei (male), artist

Lu Yenchung (male), artist

Information for the Taiwanese group’s activities in Muong Studio can be found here.

This talk is brought to you by Muong Studio, Hanoi DOCLAB and Hanoi Grapevine.

Brief introduction of Outsiders Factory group and Muong Studio’s Residence program:

Outsiders Factory is an art group set up in Taipei, Taiwan. They are different from ordinary art groups, which were mainly formed by artists. Outsiders Factory was constituted by young curators, art critics and professional workers who have art management background (art management of visual art or performance art). Outsiders Factory mainly works on exhibitions, performances and projects curation, sometimes also run some forums, lectures and other activities. Their destinations are assisting Taiwanese artists to participate the international platform, introducing Non-Western international contemporary art to Taiwan’s art circle, changing the possibilities of art curation and having a role in Asian contemporary art network.

The Residence program of Muong Studio creates opportunity for artist and researcher to come, stay and work from 10 days to 3 months at Muong Studio – an art space in mountainous area, surrounding by natural landscape and closing to Muong’s community – one of oldest tribes in Vietnam. Outsiders Factory is the first international group joining into this program.

Free entry.

Chic&Cheap Flea Market 7

Sat 18 Jan 2014, 9 am – 8 pm

Dolphin Plaza

Tran Binh Street, Cau Giay, Hanoi

Chic&Cheap Flea Market 7 – a shopping event for Tet holiday is ready to launch on Saturday, January 18, 2014 at Dolphin Plaza – Tran Binh Street, Cau Giay, Hanoi (next to My Dinh bus station).

With 50 stalls ranging from chic and cheap 2nd hand clothes and shoes, lovely home decorations, elaborate handmade accessories and cosmetics, traditional Vietnamese food and so on, Chic&Cheap Flea Market is a great opportunity to enjoy Vietnamese pre-Tet holiday spirit in such a splendid place.

Moreover, live music performance (morning and afternoon) and outdoor cinema (evening) will definitely bring you a good time.

And the best deal is: Every product at our flea market is less than 300.000VND (just about $15). So let’s be well prepared for a prosperous new year ahead!

Tickets: 15.000VND (pre ordered), 20.000VND (at door). Free entrance for children under 10 years old.

Music Night with Zea Champagne Unicorns

Sat 18 Jan 2014, 8 pm

Hanoi Social Club

6 Hoi Vu Str, Hanoi

This multi-national trio from France, Canada and Scotland use a combination of traditional instruments like ukulele, flute, cello and saxophone to create a very non-traditional sound. Strong vocal and instrumental melodies are as memorable as they are hard to define. Pop elements, catchy riffs, perfect comic anticipation and genuine feel-good moments take you on a journey of eclectic pop-steria – it’s all about fun with Zea Champagne Unicorns.

The lead singer, Zippy brings a natural, dramatic timing to their songs, songs which are diverse in their topics (from running away from aliens to revenge and they even have a song about Hanoi) but most are thematically joined by their whimsical nature. There are some notable exceptions which explore more sombre topics, but the takeaway message from their music is f.u.n.!

In short, do yourself a favour and let your ears be sonically engorged so that the smile is bursting off your head! Come to watch Zea Champagne Unicorn’s last ever gig. Ever. In the world.

Tickets: 100k @ the door

HCMC – Exhibition “The Orient, The Occident”

Opening: Thu 16 Jan, 6 – 8 pm

Exhibition: 16 Jan – 08 Mar 2014

Galerie Quynh

Come to ‘The Orient, The Occident’, an exhibition of ambitious new paintings by Lien Truong. Informed by her research on Orientalist paintings, Imperialist landscapes of the 18th century, and the writings of literary and cultural critic Edward Said, Truong’s new work examines the confusing nature of judgment and the complexity of cross-cultural belief systems.

Rich with symbolism, the allegorical paintings fuse Eastern landscape space with Western oil painting technique to depict fantastical, watery landscapes. Truong integrates human figures, animals, mythical beasts, and hybrids of her own creation into the paintings to interrogate our collective history and invent new narratives.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Lien Truong received her MFA in painting at Mills College, Oakland, California. She has exhibited extensively in notable venues including the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC; Maier Museum of Art, Lynchburg, Virginia; Southern Exposure, San Francisco, California; the Oakland Museum, Oakland, California; and the Centres of Contemporary art in Moscow and Yekaterinburg. Reviews and publications of her work have appeared in New American Paintings, ART iT, Tokyo, NY Arts Magazine and the San Francisco Chronicle. Lien Truong’s work is held in many private collections including the Linda Lee Alter Collection, which features prominent artists Faith Ringgold, Viola Frey, Alice Neel, Hung Liu and Laylah Ali among others. Truong lives and works in northern California.

Galerie Quynh

Main Gallery: 65 Đề Thám, District 1, HCMC

Tel: +84 (8) 3836 8019

Gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM; closed Sundays and Mondays

Downtown Gallery: Level 2, 151/3 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Tel: +84 3824 8284

Gallery hours: 10 AM – 7 PM, Tuesday – Sunday and by appointment

The Secret List Party

Fri 17 Jan 2014, 8 pm

ATK

73a Mai Hac De, Hanoi

Ever been curious as to what sort of musical collection someone would have if they had spent over 30 years collecting records and an unfathomable amount of time trawling through record shops across the globe? Probably a little like Brother Sanjiv’s, who will share some gems with us this Friday for his inaugural night spinning records.

Join us as we journey through Brother Sanjiv’s vinyl, coming from Hong Kong, Amsterdam, New York City, and his old backyards, London and Paris. Scoured from famous spots, discreet car boot sales, thrift stalls, markets and charity shops, this will be one hell of a party!

Free entry.

Exhibition “The Culture of Japan”

The Culture of Japan

Exhibition: 16 Jan – 09 Mar 2014

Vietnam History Museum

25 Tong Dan Str, Hanoi

Come to the exhibition “The Culture of Japan”. The exhibition will introduce an overview of the special cultural tradition of Japan and the trading history between Japan and Vietnam. There will be around 70 objects displayed in the exhibition.

The exhibition will display collections in 9 themes: Japanese ancient ceramics, Japanese ancient bronze, Buddhist sculpture art, objects for Buddhist ritual purposes, the diplomatic history between Vietnam and Japan, Japanese pottery in Edo dynasty (17th – 18th centuries), Samurai arts, Exchange collections and culture.

Screening of “Coeurs”

Fri 17 Jan 2014, 8 pm

L’Espace

24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

You are invited to the film screening “Private Fears in Public Places” (France, Italy, 2006, 125 mins) directed by Alain Resnais, who was nominated César Award for Best Director in 2007. “Everyone has something to say in his heart. A perfect combination between tragic and comic.”

For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post.

Language: French with Vietnamese subtitle.

Tickets:

Ticket price: 40 000 VND

Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 20 000 VND

Tickets are available at L’Espace.

HCMC Opera House

Live Alt-rock “Make Like a Tree”

Fri 17 Jan 2013, 8 pm

Hanoi Social Club

6 Hoi Vu Str, Hanoi

“Make Like a Tree” frontman, Sergey Onischenko comes to Hanoi with his special brand of talented, multi-instrument, free-flowing indie beard rock. In the true tradition of a wandering musician he’ll serve up compositions inspired from his journeys throughout Laos, Russia, China and Ukraine, and even play with some Hanoian residents.

Expect soaring vocals, spirited, other-world melodies, and a good dash of improvisation. This bohemian artist and rocker will play one show only. You know where!

Listen here.

If you speak Russian you can watch an interview and see more of Sergey’s work here.

Tickets: 100k @ the door

Screening of ‘Ten Years of Video Art in Indonesia (2000–2010)’

Fri 17 Jan 2014, 6.30 pm

Goethe-Institut Hanoi

56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học

Ba Đình, Hà Nội

To provide a survey of developments in Indonesian video art over the past decade, the Jakarta-based artists’

artist-run collective ruangrupa has compiled 27 works by artists and collectives who have made

significant contributions to the medium. In these ten years, has grown the new generation of video

artists in Indonesia who continued to work intensely and develop the techniques with fresh ideas

that give new color to the development of video art in Indonesia.

Many of these worked have been screened at OK. Video Festival, a biannual video festival held

since 2003 also by ruangrupa.

Ten Years of Video Art in Indonesia 2

In this volume of Súp Video Soup, Doclab is presenting to the Hanoi audience 14 works from this selection:

1.Prilla Tania – Memanen Matahari

2. Ari Satria Darma – IQRA

3. Eko Nugroho – Bercerobong

4. Mahesa Almaida – Fish Market

5. Aditya Satria – Happiness is Milk

6. Tintin Wulia – Everything’s OK

7. Wimo Ambala Bayang – Once Upon a Time in China

8. Reza Afisina – What

9. Anggun Priambodo – Crash

10. Bagasworo Aryaningtyas – Bilal

11. Mahardika Yudha – Sunrise Jive

12. Maulana Muhammad Pasha – Jalan Tak Ada Ujung

13. Otty Widasari – Rumah

14. Forum Lenteng – Andy Bertanya   

Subscription Concert vol.67 “CARMINA BURANA”

15 and 16 Jan 2014, 8 pm

Hanoi Opera House

1 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

Come to the subscription concert vol.67 “CARMINA BURANA” with conductor Honna Tetsuji, Baritone Kuroda Hiroshi, Tenor Minh Tri, Soprano Thang Long and artists from Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.

PROGRAM

Carl Orff

CARMINA BURANA

Hanoi Freude Choir

Choir of National University of Art Education

Hanoi International Chor

Choir of Vietnam National Opera Ballet

Chorus Master: Graham Sutcliffe

Tickets

Ticket prices: 200000, 350000, 500000VND. All Tickets available at Hanoi Opera House – 1 Trang Tien or can book over ticketvn@gmail.com For free delivery Call: 0913489858, 0983067996.

Talk Show: The Kindness – 30 Years Later

Thu 16 Jan 2014, 7.30 pm

Manzi Art Space

14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi    

Right before the lunar new year, RIGHT OR WRONG? talk show this time again raises the question about the kindness, urging its audience to re- analyse the ethic, personality and belief of this today Vietnam.

1984, in the setting of a post-war, poor and gloomy Vietnam, a documentary film entitled “The story of the kindness” by film director Tran Van Thuy searched for answer for the question “What is the kindness?”

2014- 30 years later, the country has shifted from a subsidied economy to a market economy, where are we now? What have we achieved? What have we lost? What challenges have we been facing?

Guests:

Film Director Trần Văn Thủy

Writer/Educator Phạm Toàn

Reporter Đỗ Thu Hà

PLEASE NOTICE: The talk will be conducted in Vietnamese only.

Due to limited capacity, please pre-register at manzihanoi@gmail.com before 3PM Wed 15 Jan 2014

Screening of Shine and La Vie en Rose

Screening of Shine: Fri 17 Jan 2014, 7.30 pm

Screening of La vie en rose: Sat 18 Jan 2014, 2 pm

Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents

51 Tran Hung Dao Str (4th floor), Hanoi

You are invited to the Two Thumbs Up Movie program of TPD this week with 2 biopics “La vie en rose” (France) and “Shine” (US) on Friday and Saturday evening respectively as usually.

About Shine

Shine is a 1996 Australian film based on the life of pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a mental breakdown and spent years in institutions.

It stars Geoffrey Rush, Lynn Redgrave, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Noah Taylor, John Gielgud, Googie Withers, Justin Braine, Sonia Todd, Nicholas Bell, Chris Haywood and Alex Rafalowicz. The screenplay was written by Jan Sardi, and Scott Hicks directed the film. The film made its US premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.

Geoffrey Rush was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1997 for his performance in the lead role.

About La Vie en Rose

La Vie en Rose (literally Life in Pink (with the figurative meaning “life through rose colored glasses”); released in France as La Môme, referring to Piaf’s nickname “La Môme Piaf” (meaning “baby sparrow, birdie, little sparrow”), is a 2007 French biographical film about the life of French singer Édith Piaf co-written, and directed by Olivier Dahan. Marion Cotillard stars as Piaf. The title La Vie en Rose comes from Piaf’s signature song.

The film won five Césars, including one for Best Actress, and Cotillard won an Academy Award for her performance, marking the first time an Oscar had been given for a French-language role. She is also the first French actress to win a Comedy or Musical Golden Globe for a foreign language role. La Vie en Rose became one of the only French films to win more than one Oscar; the other being for Makeup.

The screening is for educational purpose, entrance is free, though guests are welcome to donate to TPD Centre’s Young Cinema Fund.

Urban Talk*: 199X – CAN YOU DO IT ?!

Sat 18 Jan 2014, 3 – 5 pm

METRO

On the upcoming January 18 , deCult will hold another Urban Talk : 199X – Can You Do It ?

It focuses on the individual adaptation and regulation towards problems faced by generations born in the early 90s. These are Internet and Social networks explosion; Urbanization, Globalization, the rising influence of European-US culture, Korea, Japan …

How do Vietnamese youth adapt and regulate the flow of new cultures? How do they select, create individual identity among opposing values ​​such as tradition/modernity, collective/individual, lack/excess in material … ? How do they connect with older generation ?

In particular, the guests will share their own advantages and disadvantages in implementing group/individual projects, the process of identifying their strengths/weaknesses in the current context, …

deCult is pleased to introduce 3 guests – representatives of 199X generation:

1. Do Tuan Hai, co-owner of Consignista, Rêu Store, undertaking PR Project of Swing, Metro, etc., as well as an MC loved by many Vietnamese young people.

2. Nguyen Khieu Anh, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam student, organizer of TEDx Youth since 11th Grade in Hanoi Amsterdam High School, currently taking part in translating some historical documents.

3. Bui Tra My, consultant and implementer of project Conscious Newspaper Readers : Enhance the analysis ability and critical thinking of high school students in Hanoi, member of deCult.

Journalist Quy Lam, content curator of Doanh Nhan magazine, will lead the talk.

To participate, please register via email deCult.mcas@gmail.com with personal information attached.

Language: Vietnamese

*Urban Talk – an initiative by deCult

METRO

Số 1 Nguyen Khac Can, Hanoi

Exhibition “Soil” by Artist Tran Anh Son

Opening: Wed 15 Jan 2014, 6 pm

Exhibition: 15 – 19 Jan

Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts

66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi

You are invited to the painting and sculpture exhibition of artist Tran Anh Son titled “Soil”.