Exhibition “Unlimited Letters”

HANOI: Opening: Sun 29 Sep, 6 pm

Barbetta Republic

Zone 9, 9 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi

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HCMC: Opening: Sun 29 Sep, 7.30 pm

Palpitation

29 Dien Bien Phu, Dist 1, HCMC

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Exhibition: 29 Sep – 06 Oct 2013

“Unlimited Letters” project is organized in order to build up a space for young artists and designers to show their creativity. It gives them the opportunity to express their own style in writing letters so that people could gather and discuss about the alphabet with various art form by 35 members in different working fields.

There are 2 exhibition at the same time in 2 side of Vietnam: Hanoi and HCMC.

Beside showing 33 artworks, we are also printing 500 books about all the artists, designers who take part in Unlimited Letters to share their process or opinion. Hopefully the books would inspire you! Follow our official Facebook page of the project for more details.

Exhibition Unlimited Letters 2

This is letter B inspired by the traditional dragon symbol of Ly dynasty in Vietnam. The letter was designed by Ben, an outstanding young artist specializing in street arts in HCMC. Recently together with Justin Khuong, who is in charge of letter Z in the project, Ben completed an impressive graffiti artwork at Tiger Translate 2013. Watch the exciting video of their creative process below:

The famous comic illustrator Nguyen Thanh Phong is also contributing to the project. Thanh Phong is famous among Vietnam young generation for his renowned “Sát thủ đầu mưng mủ” comic book. He also hosted a popular exhibition and seminar at L’Espace last year titled “Language of the Youth”.

Deconstructing Memories – Open Studio

Reception: Sat 28 Sep, 6 pm

Open Studio: 28 Sep – 04 Oct 2013, 10 am – 7 pm

Nhasan COLLECTIVE

3rd Floor, Block A, 9 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi

Nha San Collective gladly presents Deconstructing Memories, an open studio of three young photographers Nguyen Hoang Nam, Nguyen Hoang Giang and Nguyen Thuy Tien on 28.09.2013.

Three young artists from Hanoi share the same interest about memories as well as existentialist questions about it in human existence. Psychology defines memory as a process of encrypting, storing and recovering information.

In Nguyen Hoang Nam’s artwork, we could see a process of encrypting his memories about a fragile “autonomous” – the poetic territory of flesh. Just like an explorer, he slowly explores and stores memories of his journey without a conscious but a sentimental and instinctive view instead. This feeling makes us to ask ourselves: Where is this territory? Is this really a place where we could set foot on? What has happened here in the name of privacy and attachment? Sometimes, we could also have a cold and mysterious feeling of a prohibited land, is it trying to chase all the curiosities, which are approaching closer and closer, away?

Nguyen Hoang Giang’s artwork seems to include all the three stages of memory. Also shares the interest about family history, Giang collects old photos from his family album and tries to find out the identities of the people in these photos. Then, he chooses the photos of whom he couldn’t know the identities. At the same time, he goes out and buys old family photos from many other sources. Who are those people? What is the relationship between Giang and them? If these photos were a symbol of memories then would his action of buying these secretly turn memories into some kind of goods? What is the remain of these people in the memories of living ones? When facing death, what is the meaning of human memories after all?

Nguyen Thuy Tien’s artwork is a process of recovering her private memories. However, these memories are created by many other collective memories as well. With an effort of collecting pieces of memories from many people, she turns herself into an investigator and follows traces of women who appeared in her father’s life. There are a little bit of bitterness and sarcasm in her artwork, is she trying to finish the picture of her family history by her high-leveled reason or her passive emotions? Is there a chance that all of what she knows is just a vaguement hides behind a persistent Oedipus complex?

This event is a part of the open studio series of Nha San Collective, in collaboration with Bill Nguyen and is sponsored by Cultural Development and Exchange Fund (CDEF).

Positive Mass 1st Anniversary Ride

Fri 27 Sep 2013, 8 pm

St Joseph Cathedral

“Positive Mass”, and event inspired on an international event called Critical Mass. It is just a bicycle ride to promote cycling for all its positive reasons. Critical Mass is a cycling event typically held on the last Friday of every month in over 300 cities around the world. The ride was originally founded in 1992 in San Francisco. The purpose of Critical Mass is not usually formalized beyond the direct action of meeting at a set location and time and traveling as a group through city or town streets on bikes.

Screening of Vertigo

Sat 28 Sep 2013, 2 pm

Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents

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

On Saturday September 28st 2013, TPD Centre will host next session of Two Thumbs Up Movie programme. We will screen Vertigo (1958), directed by Afred Hitchcock.

Vertigo is a 1958 psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock based on the 1954 novel D’entre les morts by Boileau-Narcejac. The screenplay was written by Alec Coppel and Samuel A. Taylor.

The film stars James Stewart as former police detective John “Scottie” Ferguson, who has been forced into early retirement due to suffering vertigo and clinical depression incurred in the line of duty. Scottie is hired as a private investigator to follow a woman, Madeleine Elster (Kim Novak) who is behaving peculiarly.

Attracting significant scholarly criticism, it replaced Citizen Kane as the best film of all time in the 2012 Sight & Soundcritics’ poll and has appeared repeatedly in best film polls by the American Film Institute. In 1996, Vertigo underwent a major restoration to create a new 70mm print and DTS soundtrack.

Bilingual Poetry Evening with John Balaban

Thu 26 Sep 2013, 9 – 10 pm

Tadioto

2nd Floor, Building A, 9 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi    

John Balaban is the author of 12 books of poetry and prose, including four volumes which together have won The Academy of American Poets’ Lamont prize, a National Poetry Series Selection, and two nominations for the National Book Award.

During the Viet Nam War, Balaban was a conscientious objector and went to Viet Nam with the International Volunteer Services where he taught at a university until it was bombed in the Tet Offensive (1968). He was wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and evacuated; after his recovery, he worked to save burned and injured children from the war. He left Vietnam in 1969, but returned in 1971 to work on Ca Dao Viet Nam, a collection of folkloric poems. In 2000, he released Spring Essence, a collection of poems by Hồ Xuân Hương, an 18th-century poet and the preeminent woman poet of Vietnam. The book included English translations and versions in both the current Vietnamese alphabet and the historical Chữ Nôm writing system. He is co-editor, with Nguyen Qui Duc, of Vietnam: A Traveler’s Literary Companion. Balaban has written other works that draw on his experiences in Viet Nam including the extraordinary memoir, Remembering Heaven’s Face. His anthology Locusts at the Edge of Summer: New and Selected Poems won the 1998 William Carlos Williams Award. He is currently the Poet-in-Residence and Professor of English in the creative writing program of North Carolina State University.    

HCMC – Exhibition “Elementals” by Tom Smith

Opening: Thu 26 Sep 2013, 6 pm

DeciBel Lounge

79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh, D1, HCMC

‘Elementals’ has been chosen as a loosely based working title that encompasses the overall tone for these four sets of work, two of which were sold when the work was first shown in London several years ago.

‘Elemental’ is a term which can reference the fundamental building blocks of nature but which can also indicate forces which the ancients deemed, superior hidden entities. In the words of the alchemist Paracelsus – “creatures that are outside the cognizance of the light of nature”.

Common threads for the work can be found in Animistic Symbolism and European Folklore, hence the relationship to the set of paintings titled ‘Faerie’.

This work stemmed from an interest in 19th century visionaries such as Blake, Lear, and Palmer, men who in their time were regarded as eccentric or even insane. This continued with the fairy paintings of Richard Dadd, who spent most of his live in Bedlam asylum.

An additional influence was the writings of the early 20th century thinker, Walter Benjamin (‘Arcades Project’, ‘Philosophy, Aesthetics, History,’ and ‘One Way Street and Other Writings’).

About the artist

Tom Smith studied at Shelley Park Art College and at The Arts Institute at Bournemouth in Dorset, England.

Having graduated in 2004, he became a founding member of the artist’s collective The Artworks in Poole Dorset. He has since then exhibited work in various galleries in the U.K. He has also made performance pieces and created installation works in the unlikely settings of: a garage, several pubs and a derelict house.

HCMC – Tran Van Thao’s New Exhibition

Exhibition: 26 Sep – 22 Nov 2013

Sofitel Saigon Palza

17 Le Duan Boulevard, District 1, HCMC

Come to an exhibition of work by leading abstract artist Tran Van Thao. The works presented reflect 15 years of the artist’s creative practice.

Tran Van Thao, one of Vietnam’s pioneering abstract painters, makes art that celebrates the vagaries of life. From highly tactile works that appear like sculptural reliefs to sophisticated compositions with scumbled areas of paint, Tran Van Thao’s oeuvre shows his skill and understanding of a complex genre of art. Constantly challenging his artmaking, Thao moves comfortably between styles and work methods. Whether he employs traditional oils on canvas or incorporates real objects and collage into his work, Thao is able to create paintings that engage his viewers emotionally and viscerally. Thao states, “When we close our eyes, we see shadows of the infinite, disorientation, profound depth… not just the literal meaning of shadows. And when we open our eyes, we see many things: sun and wind, air, objects, people… This ‘eye-opening’ moment could be at any time, in any mood, can ‘catch’ any subject, can recall any atmosphere.”

Born in 1961 in Saigon, Tran Van Thao graduated from the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts University. He has held numerous exhibitions in Asia, Europe and the U.S. and his works are in public and private collections in Vietnam and abroad. In 2002 he was the recipient of the Asian Cultural Council’s Starr Foundation Fellowship and spent four months as an artist-in-residence in New York. Tran Van Thao lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City.

Contact: Ms. Celine Alexandre (English and French) celine@galeriequynh.com or Mr. Tung Mai (Vietnamese) tung@galeriequynh.com   

Exhibition “Iwasaki Chihiro and Vietnam”

Opening: Sat 28 Sep, 10 am

Exhibition: 28 Sep – 27 Oct 2013

Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam

27 Quang Trung

Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

In celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam, the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, in cooperation with the Chihiro Art Museum, shares the delight of hosting an art exhibition “Iwasaki Chihiro and Vietnam”, from 28 September – 27 October 2013 in Hanoi. This exhibition introduces 40 selected artworks (32 artworks are first appearances in Vietnam) in Piezographs, having three main themes: children, flowers and picture books.

The opening will have a talk on “Chihiro, a painter connection Japan and Vietnam: True love to peaceful, plentiful, beautiful and cute things” By Ms. Yuko Takesako Deputy Director, Chihiro Art Museum Azumino.

Iwasaki Chihiro (1918 – 1974) is one of the most beloved Japanese artists/illustrators in the world, celebrated for her unique feathery expression combining an Eastern Indian-ink painting and a Western watercolor painting.

Chihiro is believed that she could distinguish a 10-month baby and a 1-year-old baby skillfully in her paintings, and could draw any postures of a child without a model. Naturally, children in Chihiro’s paintings are highly animated and deeply expressive, with a plenty of inner emotions.

Along with children, flowers were also Chihiro’s major favorites to draw. She grew many kinds of flowers by herself in her garden and the flowers were seasonally flourishing all the years, being a resource of her imagination.

Throughout her career, Chihiro wrote about 40 picture books including Japanese and Andersen’s fairy tales, daily lives of children and babies, and especially “Children in the Flames of War”, one of Chihiro’s most important works in which she not only drew the illustrations but also wrote the texts, in spite of her sickness, painfully inspired from the Vietnam War.

As one of human beings who experienced a war, Chihiro was in all her life anxious about children’s happiness and peace, leaving behind the words in 1970s, “May Vietnamese children, Japanese children and children all over the world live in peace and happiness”.

Over 40 years have passed since Chihiro left behind the words. Are we living in peace and happiness now? The organizers hope that this exhibition will provide you a good opportunity to look back over our lives, through the world of Iwasaki Chihiro who loves “plentiful, peaceful, beautiful and cute” things in all her life.

Iwasaki Chihiro (1918 – 1974)

Born in Takefu, Fukui Prefecture, and moved to Tokyo later. She began to study sketching and oil painting at the age of 14 under Okada Saburosuke, and Japanese calligraphy when she was 18, under Oda Shuyo of the Fujiwara Kozei School. Her first work for children was a set of illustrated “paper-theatre” storytelling panels called “Okasan no Hanashi” [lit. The Story of a Mother] in 1950, and in 1956, she created her first picture book, “Hitori de Dekiru yo” [lit. I Can Do it All by Myself]. She won many prizes, among them; Graphic Prize Fiera di Bologna for “Kotori no Kuru Hi” [lit. The Pretty Bird] in 1971, and Bronze Medal of the Lepzig International Book Fair for “Senka no Naka no Kodomo-tachi” [lit. Children in the Flames of War] in 1974. In 1973 Chihiro was diagnosed with liver cancer, and died the following year at the age of 55.

HCMC – Green Drinks “Super Energy Savings”

Thu 26 Sep 2013, 6.30 – 8.30 pm

Zest Cafe

5 Ton Duc Thang, Dist 1, HCMC

Green Drinks is back to share a real life case-study of how wholesaling Giant Metro Vietnam has reduced energy consumption. Metro C&C’s Operations Director, Erik Heens, will show how they manage Energy, what they have managed achieve already and projects in the pipeline to improve efficiencies in the near future.

Come armed with your business cards, questions and opinion’s and be ready to meet green-minded businesspersons, students, architects and scientists from Vietnam and around the world.

About our Speaker

Erik Heens started to work in Asia in 1997 with Puratos (bakery ingredients), as Sales Manager for Asia, and in 2001 came to live in Vietnam to set the Puratos subsidiary. Since 2004 he joined Metro C&C with whom he has been working in China (head of operations, expansion), Morocco (Operations Director), and now since 2009 back in Vietnam (Operations Director). Currently, his work includes all the day to day management of the existing stores, the sales force, the food service delivery, as well design & construction of new stores.

Note: Presentations begin at 19:00 and will last for 50mins, followed by networking.

For more information, please contact greendrinks@green.vn.

Entrance is free and no invitation is needed.

WhiteNoiz with Re-Cycle Live Music

Thu 26 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Hanoi Rock City

27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

HRC presents one of the most famous rock bands in HCMC, WHITENOIZ and Recycle.

:: WHITENOIZ ::

One of the most famous rock bands in HCMC, WhiteNoiz has performed in many stages and this time at HRC with a debut taste for their new MV “White Love”.

:: RE-CYCLE::

Just got back from there 4 live shows in Hue and Da Nang, Re-Cycle is ready to bring u all their old and new songs from their latest album “Bình Minh”. Don’t miss their live performances !

Tickets: 100,000 VND (incl. 1 free beer/soft drink)    

Scuplture Exhibition “Silence”

Exhibition: 23 – 29 Sep 2013

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St. Hanoi

Nguyen Nguyen Ha examines everything briefly but his works. He sets a high standard for all performance. He works quietly from day to day at his own studio in a long, careful, calm and unhurried process.

“Silence” is his first solo exhibition which features 11 latest works created from 2010 to present, with no common theme and divided into 4 interesting short stories.

To this exhibition, he said, “That consistent style in a common theme which can convey the messages is the most important thing. To me, it is necessary to try one’s best within the limit of their own ability to show respect to the audience and colleague.”

According to careful modules, the large sculptures are placed on the floor and smaller pieces are standing on board formally. The intentional mixture of  materials will bring surprise to the audience.

About Nguyen Nguyen Ha

Sculptor Nguyen Nguyen Ha was born in 1966 in Ha Dong.

Graduated sculpture department at Hanoi Fine Arts University in 1990.

Member of Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Worked at Central Art Company (from May 1990 – Nov 2006) and Department of Fine Arts, Photography & Exhibitions (from Nov 2006 – May 2010).

Freelance artist now.

Exhibition

National Art Exhibition in 1990

National Art Exhibition in 1995

National Art Exhibition in 2000

National Art Exhibition in 2005

National Art Exhibition in 2010

National Sculpture Exhibition in 1983

National Sculpture Exhibition in 1993

National Sculpture Exhibition in 2003

Young Eye Art Exhibition France 2001.

Specialized Exhibition of Fine Arts District – Ha Noi 2006

Art Exhibition 2008

2 connection Exhibition Hanoi-Saigon 2010

Shows the works of the Fine Arts Museum of Vietnam & Indonesia – inside out 2010

(* Note: National Art Exhibition: 5 years / time, National Relievo Exhibition:10 years/ time )

Awards

Silver medal of National Arts Exhibition 1990: Kite – Cenment

Consolation Prize of National Sculpture Exhibition 1993: Portrait 1 – Stone

3 rd Prize – Young Eye Art Exhibition France 2001: Half length – Composit

+ Consolation prize – National Sculpture Exhibition 2003: Butterfly – Composit

Works to be exhibited at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum

Sister – Stone National Art Exhibition 1990.

Sea Bird (Swallow) – Composit National Art Exhibition 2000

Butterfly – Composit Consolation prize- National Sculpture Exhibition 2003

UK Film Festival 2013

UK Film Festival 2013: 30 Sep – 04 Oct 2013

Hanoi, HCMC, Hai Phong, Danang, Cantho

The British Council Vietnam shows five British comedies in five major cities in Vietnam, every day in the week starting 30 September. For the first time, outdoor showings will be organised in the rural district of Hoa Vang, Danang.

Film selections include Local Hero (1983), A Private Function (1984), the Witches (1990), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Shaun of the Dead (2004). Films will be shown in the Megastar Cineplexes in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Haiphong. In Can Tho, Ninh Kieu Cinema is the selected venue for showings.

The UK Film Festival 2013 is part of the GREAT Week, a week to showcase the best of the UK in Vietnam. All shows are free and tickets can be collected at 14.00, 25 September 2013 (Find the screening schedule and ticket collecting points below for more information)

To entertain the villagers in Hoa Vang District, Danang, Mr Bean’s Back to School and the award-winning animated film Lost and Found were picked.

Chris Brown, Country Director, British Council Vietnam said: ‘This year we will celebrate British comedies. The UK has a Great tradition of comedy – it is fun and carries some powerful messages at the same time. So do come and enjoy something very special – British humour.

‘Many of our selections are classics. Why? Simply, they are great and timeless! We want to share them with you instead of just keeping them to ourselves, I look forward to seeing you there!’

Produced by Lord Puttnam of Queensgate (who won the Academy Award for Chariots of Fire), Local Hero was nominated for seven BAFTA Awards including Best Film. It won the BAFTA Award for Best Direction and holds a rare 100% positive rating from top critic reviews on the film review web site Rotten Tomatoes. Critics praised the film as a ‘perfect, magical, intelligent comedy.’

A Private Function might be the most interesting selection for the UK Film Festival this year as it depicts a stint in the UK which is very similar to the post-war era in Vietnam when eating meat was a luxury and meat smuggling was a serious crime. Vietnamese audiences could laugh like a drain when seeing what would happen when a living pig went wild in your city kitchen with all of its horrible ‘business.’

Starring the Academy Award winning actress Anjelica Huston as the ‘completely uncompromised villainess,’ The Witches was also praised by the critics and hold a rare 100% positive rating from top critics on Rotten Tomatoes.

Four weddings and a Funeral does not need any explanation. The film saw Hugh Grant shot to global fame; it was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and became the ‘highest grossing British film in the cinema history at the time, with worldwide box office in excess of 245 million dollars.’

Shaun of the Dead stars Simon Pegg as a man trying to get some kind of focus in his life while having to deal with an uprising army of zombies. The film received both critical and commercial success.

Free tickets. Tickets can be collected at 14.00, 25 September 2013 (Find the screening schedule and ticket collecting points below for more information)

In Hanoi, tickets can be collected from Wed 25 Sep, 2 pm at British Council, 20 Thuy Khue, Hanoi.

FVH’s Special Music Program: Ca Tru

Wed 25 Sep 2013, 8 – 10 pm

CaTru Hanoi Club

Join us for a special concert of CaTru music arranged for FVH members on Wednesday, September 25, at 8:00 pm at the Jewelry Communal House, 42 Hang Bac in the Old Quarter. The concert will feature several famous CaTru performers, an introduction to the history of CaTru, and opportunities to interact with the performers and try out their instruments. The concert will also feature a master of traditional flutes and the two-string guitar as well as a well-known drum performer and traditional dancers.

CaTrù is a form of traditional Vietnamese music which features three performers. A female singer provides the vocals whilst playing small wooden sticks beaten on a small bamboo bar. She is accompanied by a man who plays a long-necked, 3-string bottom guitar. The third performer is a ‘spectator’ who strikes a praise drum in reaction to the singer’s performance.

CaTru started off as a form of entertainment for the royal court, later branching out into being performed at small inns for scholars and other members of the elite. In the 15th century, CaTru spread through northern Vietnam, celebrating special events, such as the birth of a son or the signing of a contract. In the 20th century, however, CaTrù almost died out. In recent years, with the recognition of CaTru as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage, considerable efforts have been made to re-invigorate the genre, including holding festivals and events where several types of catrù are performed.

Cost:    200,000 VND

Limit:    20 people

Sign-up required: send an email to Helen at helenshuntley@yahoo.com

CaTru Hanoi Club

42 Hang Bac, Hanoi

(E)MOTION – A Showcase of Stencil Art by Knee Jerk

Opening: Wed 25 Sep, 6 pm

Exhibition: 25 Sep – 07 Oct 2013, 9 am – 12 pm

Manzi Art Space

14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi

manzi art space is proud to present a showcase of stencil art by Knee Jerk.

The focus for the (E)Motion exhibition at Manzi is a series of anomalous motion illusions and other optical art pieces that will make you wonder if you are seeing things or if in reality it is the artwork that is itself moving! As with all of Knee Jerk’s work there is a social and environmental commentary within the pieces and rather than having a knee jerk (automatic) reaction to the work, the artist urges you to think about the art and its context to understand more fully the juxtaposition of geometric beauty and hidden meanings.

This is the artist’s first solo show and features a new body of work that promises to deliver a fresh taste of something you probably haven’t seen before – Artwork that appears to move in some way, in what is the first gallery exhibition of stencil art in Vietnam’s history.

Knee Jerk is a graphic designer, illustrator and stencil artist currently residing in Hanoi. His colourful work ranges from abstract to realistic, minimalist to high detail and anywhere in between. Usually, his designs begin in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator and end up as large multilayer stencils that are painstakingly cut by hand before being sprayed onto canvases, walls and other objects.    

The Hanoi Open Exhibition

Opening: Thu 26 Sep, 7 pm

Exhibition: 26 Sep – 13 Oct 2013

 Work Room Four

Building E, Floor 4

9 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi

We are delighted to invite you to the opening of The Hanoi Open Exhibition.

The exhibition is a large multidiscipline contemporary art show contributed to by renowned professional and amateur artists of all nationalities living and working in Vietnam.

The concept – loosely based on the principles of the Royal Academy Summer exhibition.

With Over 30 Artists and 60 Works covering painting, photography sculpture, installation and print. This is a unique opportunity to experience different aspects of creativity found in Vietnam.

We are offering artists a contemporary space to exhibit and you, the audience, a space to enjoy it.    

Vietnamese Artists at Singapore Biennale 2013

Opening: 24 and 25 Oct 2013

Exhibition: 26 Oct 2013 – 16 Feb 2014

Bras Basah.Bugis Precinct, Singapore

Since its birth in 2006 Singapore Biennale has become one of the biggest art playgrounds for South East Asian contemporary artists and art lovers. Together with the Art Stage Singapore, the Singapore Biennale is one of the two most remarkable events in this country purely dedicated to the love of art (and also the business).

The fourth edition of Singapore Biennale this year will showcase artworks by 82 artists and artist collectives from South East Asia and beyond in which Vietnamese artists taking part include Nguyen Oanh Phi Phi, Nguyen Tran Nam, Lam Hieu Thuan, Le Brothers, Nguyen Huy An, Nguyen Trinh Thi, Uu Dam Tran Nguyen, Nguyen Thi Hoai Tho, Tran Tuan and Vu Hong Ninh.

There are also two curators from Vietnam in the curating team for Singapore Biennale 2013 that are Nguyen Nhu Huy and Tran Luong.

For the full list of artists check the Biennale’s website.    

Candoco to Kick off GREAT Week in Vietnam

HANOI: Sun 29 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Hanoi Opera House-

HCMC: Thu 03 Oct 2013, 8 pm

HCMC Opera House

Invited by British Council, Candoco will perform in Vietnam for the first time. Performances are slated for 29 September (Hanoi Opera House) and 03 October (Ho Chi Minh City Opera House). Candoco is a contemporary dance company of disabled and non-disabled artists founded in 1991.

Taking part in the 2008 Handover Ceremonies at the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, representing Britain, Candoco marks the first time disabled artists appeared in both events in the history of the games.

Candoco’s Vietnam Tour is organised by the British Council Vietnam to celebrate 40 years of Vietnam – UK diplomatic relations and 20 years of British Council in Vietnam with the two performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

In Ho Chi Minh City, Candoco will conduct a dance workshop for street and migrant children in collaboration with SOUL Academy. SOUL Academy focuses on music education; it was founded by Thanh Bui, a finalist in the sixth season of the Australian Idol contest.

The grand performance in Hanoi will be opened by a special number, involving four disabled children from Nghi luc song (The Will to Live) Centre and artists from Hanoi Youth Theatre. The act will be choreographed by Candoco in the days prior to the show. Life Arts, a social enterprise for Creativity and Community Development, has provided the venue for rehearsals.

This opening piece, also termed the choreographic residence, is an idea initiated by Candoco as they tour the world and has been included in many other country visits, creating an opportunity to bring change in the perception of, and association with, disability. Just as importantly, participants gain a huge sense of achievement, pride and confidence, through taking part in the performance.

Among 8 Candoco artists coming to Vietnam, three have physical disabilities. Together they will showcase the triple bill of contemporary dances, consisting of Studies for C, Set and Reset/Reset, and Imperfect Storm.

The mesmerising impression of Studies for C comes immediately from the traditional Mexican Ranchera music and costumes bearing the writings ‘I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees,’ a famous quote by the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata.

The duet is a celebration of difference and rebellion with two dancers wearing Lucha Libre masks, which are used in professional wrestling in Mexico. The world renowned choreographer Javier Frutos tells a story of two characters in limbo. The two iconic figures try in vain to get out of the suspended state in which they are tied together and dependent on each other.

Javier de Frutos directed movements in the HBO series Games of Thrones. He also joined Pet Shop Boys in the ballet, The most incredible thing, providing choreography. Audiences will feel the theatrical and cinematic impressions in his Studies for C.

Set and Reset/Reset is based on Trisha Brown’s 1983 original piece. It explores fundamental movements and underlying structures that anchor a dance to it. If Studies for C is set in a limited space, Set and Reset/Reset opens up a free space for thought and imagination. Not focusing on any individual, Set and Reset/Reset strives for a harmony of movements.

Imperfect storm combines movement with texts, and meaning with humor. Loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Imperfect Storm is a unique mix of the free expression in contemporary dance, humour and theatrical tricks.

Chris Brown, Country Director, British Council Vietnam said: ‘We are delighted to bring Candoco to Vietnam, particularly during the UK’s ‘GREAT Week’. Candoco performances celebrate 40 years of Vietnam – UK diplomatic relations and 20 years of British Council in Vietnam.

‘Over the past 20 years, Candoco artists, including those who are disabled, have never stopped learning, innovating and inspiring. It’s very interesting to see that “Inspire, Learn and Innovate” is also the theme of this anniversary year of Vietnam – UK relations.’

During their time in Vietnam, Candoco will also take part in the international dance festival in Hanoi ‘Europe meets Asia in Contemporary Dance,’ in which they will perform In Translation, an intricate piece by Emanuel Gat.

Tickets: By invitation only   

Hanoi Opera House

1 Trang Tien, Hanoi   

HCMC Opera House

No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC   

Concert “Like a September Rain” by Percussionist Tran Xuan Hoa

Fri 27 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Manzi Art Space

14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi

Manzi art space is proud to present an unmissable marimba solo concert “Like a September rain” by percussionist Tran Xuan Hoa.

Tran Xuan Hoa: Graduated from Hanoi Music Conservatory, Hoa has been playing as a lead percussion player at the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet. He also acts as founder of the well-known percussion team named ‘Go Group’ . Hoa is also known as one of the pioneers in Vietnam who is able to make a solo show with percussion

Ticket at door: 200K + 1 free beer or soft drink    

A Night at the Opera – Puccini’s Tosca

Fri 27 Sep 2013, 7.30 pm

Hanoi Cinematheque

22A Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội

At the end of the alley leading to Artist’s Hotel

Come to the screening of a classic production of Giacomo Puccini’s opera Tosca.

Tosca is a three-act opera by Giacomo Puccini, based on the melodramatic play by Victorien Sardou. The story involves the singer Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi, and the chief of police Baron Scarpia. When a prisoner escapes and his whereabouts are known only to Cavaradossi and Tosca, Scarpia uses the torture of Cavaradossi to wrest the information from Tosca. Tragedy ensues when all three characters wrongly assume they can get what they desire from the others.

Tosca is structured as a through-composed work, with arias, recitative, choruses and other elements musically woven into a seamless whole. Puccini used Wagnerian leitmotifs (short musical statements) to identify characters, objects and ideas. Three of the best known arias in the entire opera repertory are in the opera, one in each of the acts.

The opera will be screened in the original Italian with English subtitles.

For those with membership at the Cinémathèque, make a reservation as usual by phoning the Cinémathèque, daily between 14:00 – 21:00 at 3936-2648. A limited number of tickets are also available through the Opera Guild, send an email to info@hanoioperaguild.com. A donation of VND 60,000 is suggested.   

Music Night with The London Underground

Sat 28 Sep 2013, 9 pm

Barbetta Republic

Zone 9

38 Nguyen Huy Tu/09 Tran Thanh Tong Str, Hanoi

The London Underground crew are back, and it’s now time to all change for some serious London sounds.

The usual suspects on he decks will be Spectrum, Vaughan, and JC taking you on an immense journey through everything London associated with the cutting edge music out off the big city.

We will also have live visuals, and some London decor to get the mood going, not to mention a pounding Funktion One sound system, which is common in most of the big rave clubs in the city, this will make those basslines jump out.

So get transported to a warehouse style party back in gritty east London, right here in Hanoi.

Free entry.

HCMC – Keep Your Passion 2

Thu 26 Sep 2013, 7 pm

Dart Bar

224 Pasteur, Quận 3, TP HCM

For the first time in Saigon, the long-awaited show “Keep your passion 2″ will be held on Thursday this week.

With various rock genres from Progressive, Grunge, Modern to Gothic, this program will be a colorful, emotional and unforgettable rock music night.

4 bands with different styles: Hac San (progressive metal), Destiny (christian/gothic), Bui Gio (modern rock) and Day A Week (post grunge) will contribute to “keeping the passion” of Vietnamese Rock fan through this show.

Entry: 100.000 VND (including 1 drink)

Hotline: 0906204341 (Mr Sơn) – 0904700725 (Ms Ly)

Briefly translated by Hanoi Grapevine

HCMC – September Concert

Adrian Tan and Albert Lin

Fri 27 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Ho Chi Minh Conservatory of Music

112 Nguyen Du Street, Ward 1, HCMC

You are invited to the September concert conducted by Adrian Tan with the performance of pianist Albert Lin. In addition to famous work of well-known composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, Symphony No.9 of Nguyen Van Nam who devotes all his life to composing traditional pieces will be performed for the first time by Saigon Philharmonic Orchestra.

Program

Part I

1. Rachmaninoff – Piano Concerto No.3

Pianist: Albert Lin and Saigon Philharmonic orchestra

Conductor: Adrian Tan Chee Kang

Part II

2. Nguyen Van Nam – Symphony No. 9

Conductor: Adrian Tan Chee Kang

Saigon Philharmonic orchestra

HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

Tickets

Ticket price: 200.000 – 300.000 VND

Contact:

HCMC Conservatory of Music

112 Nguyen Du, Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, HCMC

Tel: (08) 38243774 (ext 130) during office hours

Mobile phone: 0909 550 962 (Mr. Hai)

Contemporary Dance “petiteshistoires.com”

Sun 29 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Youth Theater

11 Ngo Thi Nham, Hanoi

You are invited to the hip-hop contemporary dance performance “petiteshistoires.com”. The program is within the framework of Festival of Contemporary Dance 2013 “Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance”.

“petiteshistoires.com” choreographed by Kader Attou is a unique series of dance. The dancers will tell their own stories, about their happy childhood memories… The theme throughout this performance is dreaminess, emotion and poetry. From the piano and dance, their bitter laugh and sense of nostalgia are expressed.

Dancers: Kader Attou (choreographer), Brahim Bouchelaghem, Hichem Serir Abdallah Thô Anothaï, Nicolas Majou

FREE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE from 19 Sep at 2 pm at:

Goethe-Institut, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi

L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi

Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung, Hanoi and

British Council, 20 Thuy Khue, Hanoi

Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival at Sofitel Plaza Hanoi

Thu 19 Sep 2013, 6.30 pm

Sofitel Plaza Hanoi

1 Thanh Nien Road, Ba Dinh, Hanoi

Make this year’s full-moon festival one to remember for the whole family by celebrating at the salubrious Sofitel Plaza Hanoi. As part of the party, kids and parents will enjoy a sumptuous buffet of seafood and BBQ, along with fun-filled entertainment performances including a traditional lion dance, lantern parade, modern magic tricks and a live band. Under the expert eye of the hotel’s Master Chef, youngsters can get further into the festival spirit by trying their hands in our mooncake making competition. Leave your worries at the door and soak up the party atmosphere to share some truly precious festive family moments.

Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival Sofitel Plaza Hanoi 2

Tickets

Buy 10 tickets get 1 extra free. Limited tickets – book now to avoid disappointment!

VND 870,000++/adult & VND 750,000++/child

For booking please contact 04 3823 888. Ext 5303/8668

Or Ms. Hanh 0904 266 298

Right or Wrong? – Talkshow with Giang Dang

Thu 19 Sep 2013, 7.30 pm

Manzi Art Space

14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi

manzi is proud to introduce our new series of monthly talk shows, entitled “Right or Wrong?”. For each show, presenter Giang Dang will invite guest speakers to join him for a discussion on current social issues and cultural matters that are of public concern. As a multi-dimensional platform, “Right or Wrong?” reflects the frictions between different systems of values, aesthetics, opinions and tastes in contemporary Vietnamese society. Come join us – you will be entertained, and you will also be made to think!

This month, the series will bring you an interesting discussion entitled ‘Legalising prostitution: Immoral or Liberal? ‘

Guess speakers:

- Ms. Khuat Thu Hong, Director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS)

- Prof. Le Thi Quy, Director of The Institute for Gender and Development (INGAD)

- Ms. My Linh, host of the TV show ‘Culture – Events – Personality’

- And an ‘insider’

The talk will be conducted in Vietnamese only.

Due to limited capacity, please register at manzihanoi@gmail.com before 3.00 p.m, Wed, 18 September 2013.    

Tropfest South East Asia Calls for Submissions

Deadline: 28 Oct 2013

Tropfest SEA is calling for all interested residents or citizens of Southeast Asia to tell their stories – bring out your camera, make your film and submit it to us by October 28, 2013!

Selected finalists’ films will premiere at Tropfest SEA Festival Night to be held in Penang, Malaysia on January 25, 2014, to be watched by thousands at the free to attend event.

Tropfest began in Sydney Australia more than 20 years ago and today spans the globe to cover New York, Abu Dhabi, Sydney and Taranaki in New Zealand, and now in Southeast Asia.

It has become one of the world’s best springboards for emerging talents. Scores of films made for and screened at Tropfest have gone on to gain commercial distribution

Simple guidelines include:

• Your film must be made specifically for Tropfest SEA 2014

• Tropfest SEA 2014 must be your film’s first public screening

• Your film must be no longer than 7 minutes (including titles and credits)

• Your film must contain the 2014 Tropfest Signature Item (TSI) which is ‘RICE’

• Your film must be in 16:9 ratio That simple!

TEDxCity2.0 in Hanoi

Sat 21 Sep 2013, 2 pm

National Library

31 Trang Thi, Hanoi

You are invited to the event “TEDxCity2.0” which is organized by TEDxBadinh – an independent organization patronized by TEDxEvent, TED Global. It is an initial time that this event is established in Vietnam, and is held the second time in the world. About the event, the purpose is to share particular ideas in different fields (art, architecture, literature, travel etc.) and contribute those ideas to change Hanoi becomes a better city (about people, views or perception). Six crucial representatives, who have in-deep knowledge about Hanoi and are willing to share their passion, are invited to become our esteemed guest speakers.

About registration

TEDxBadinh is trying to help audience conveniently purchase tickets. We provide two options to buy ticket with two ranges of registration fee:

• Option 1: Purchase directly at 81 Lang Ha. Registration fee: 60, 000 VND.

• Option 2: Book online ticket with TEDxBadinh and we will ship it to your address. Fee: 75, 000 VND.

Registration link (from 01/09 to 18/09)

We will start to check-in at 1:30 PM and ends at 2 PM, so please arrive on time.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any concern, we are glad to answer as soon as possible.

For further information, please visit our Facebook, our website.

Email: tedxbadinh@gmail.com

Hotline: 0982 709 000 (Mr. Tien)

Screening of “Little Nicolas”

Fri 20 Sep 2013, 8 pm

L’Espace

24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

You are invited to the film screening “Little Nicolas” (France, 2010, 90 mins) directed by Laurent Tirard. The film was nominated for the César Award 2010 and the Best screenplay for  Laurent Tirard and Grégoire Vigneron. “The film brings audience back to touching childhood memories through satire.” (VnExpress).

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

Tickets:

Ticket price: 40 000 VND

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

Tickets are available at L’Espace.

Screening of “Qu’un Seul Tienne et les Autres Suivront”

Fri 27 Sep 2013, 8 pm

L’Espace

24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

You are invited to the film screening “The silent voices” (France, 2010, 115 mins) directed by Léa Fehner. The La Croix Magazine has rated this movie “The first masterful work. A beautiful movie whose feelings touch the audience’s heart”.

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.

Cabaret Night in September

Sat 28 Sep 2013, 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.

Symphony Concert with German Conductor Bernhard Epstein

Tue 24 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Hanoi Opera House

1 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

For the second time this year, renowned conductor Bernhard Epstein, Music Academy of Stuttgart visits Hanoi, responding to the invitation of the DAAD and the Goethe-Institut and in cooperation with the Vietnam National Academy of Music. After the successful performance of pieces such as Richard Wagner’s “The Flying Dutchman” in March, together with the Philharmonic Orchestra of Hanoi he will present works of Johannes Brahms and Ludwig van Beethoven at the Opera House of Hanoi.

Program

1. Johannes Brahms (1833 – 1897)

Piano Concerto No 1 in D-Minor, Op. 15

I. Maestoso (D-Minor)

II. Adagio (D-Major)

III. Rondo: Allegro non troppo (D-Minor/ D-Major)

2. Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Sinfonie in Es-Dur, Op. 55

I. Allegro con brio

II. Marcia funebre

III. Scherzo

IV. Allegro molto – Poco Andante -Presto

Tickets

Ticket prices: 350 000, 500 000 VND.

Tickets are available from Monday, 9.9.2013 at:

+ Goethe-Institut Hanoi, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi

+ National Academy of Music, 77 Hao Nam, Hanoi

+ Opera House, 1 Trang Tien, Hanoi

Or can book over ticketvn@gmail.com

For free delivery Call: 0913489858, 0983067996.

Conductor Prof. Bernhard Epstein

Studying piano, ensemble conducting and conducting at the music academies in Stuttgart, Hannover and Berlin Bernhard Epstein graduated with honors. From 2001 to 2002 he was solo repetiteur and appointed conductor at the theatre of Koblenz, followed by a commission as conductor at the State Opera Hannover and from 2006-2009 also as conductor at the State Opera Stuttgart. Since 2009 Bernhard Epstein has been working as the Artistic Director of the Opera School, he is also professor of correpetition since 2007 at the college of music in Stuttgart. As a pianist and conductor, he was awarded with several prizes and scholarships. Besides an extensive range of opera repertoires Bernhard Epstein has also conducted numerous contemporary musical theatre productions and premieres.

Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra – Vietnam National Academy of Music

The Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra has already made a name for itself internationally. The ensemble does not only plays several concerts every year in different provinces and cities of Vietnam, the ensemble’s last great trip abroad was in to Japan, but it also played in Thailand, Lao and Russia. The Orchestra comprises of professors, lecturers and good students of Vietnam National Academy of Music, of which many also graduated from well-known international music conservatories. Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra performs annually with foreign guest conductors.

Festival of Contemporary Dance 2013 “Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance”

Pre-Opening: Wed 25 Sep, 8 pm

L’Espace

-

Festival: 26 – 29 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Youth Theater

“Europe meets Asia in Contemporary Dance” – The Dance Festival is taking place for the third time and is already a major event in the cultural calendar of Hanoi. Received by both media and the public with enthusiasm and applause, this festival has successfully contributed to a growing awareness of contemporary dance in Hanoi since 2011. “Europe meets Asia in Contemporary Dance” is an initiative of EUNIC, the Network of European cultural institutes and embassies in Hanoi, in cooperation with the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNBO) and this year will be coordinated by the Goethe Institute.

Larger and more diverse than in the past two years, this year’s festival includes dance pieces from five countries: Belgium (Wallonie-Bruxelles), France, Great Britain, Israel and Japan. In addition, there will be one German-Vietnamese and one French-Vietnamese co-production. On five evenings the audience will experience a broad spectrum of contemporary dance to soundtracks ranging from hip-hop through electronic to classical music.

In the “pre-opening” at the Institut Francais – L’Espace, a French-Vietnamese group presents the piece Underground. Based on the historical reality of the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, choreographers John Bateman and Nguyen Anh Duc offer a tribute to the resilience of human life. Like a living mass, a continuous stream, the dancers crisscross and intertwine.

At the invitation of the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation, Compagnied’Ici P. presents the solo piece Sillon of FréWerbrouck, danced by Sara Sampelayo Fernandez. Accompanied by a fragment of melody, the piece attempts to grasp sounds that capture the identity of a gesture, interrupted by moments of tense emptiness. A journey into weightlessness, alternating between rhythmic and a-rhythmic images.

For the first time a Japanese dancer joins the festival, at the invitation of the Japan Foundation. Mikiko Kawamura, making a clean sweep of New Artist Prizes in Japan, shows a delicate yet powerful solo piece named Alphard, made with her inspiration from the same name’s lonely bright star, standing alone in the position of the snake’s heart in the constellation Hydra. With light installations, the young choreographer divides the stage into nine squares, each with a different musical theme. It is like “stepping on the perceptions”, according to the artist’s statement.

Also for the first time, Israel is a guest of the dance festival. Mushroom Z, a work for three dancers portrays a group of people, all different, and their dealing with an urban society, where life is full of temptations, climaxes, ecstasy, routine and downfall, pleasures, hallucinations and more. Choreographer Nadav Zelner has enjoyed national and international success.

Lighting is the title and also the theme of the German-Vietnamese co-production. Igniting a movement in a group of people begins with a small gesture which becomes a great movement – like a fire starting from a tiny spark and burning ever higher. German choreographer Anna Konjetzky, at the invitation of the Goethe Institute, co-founder of the festival, has developed this piece for five European and five Vietnamese dancers. The four-week rehearsal and the premiere of this unusual piece take place in Munich, thus providing the young dancers of VNOB an extraordinary opportunity to present themselves internationally.

The British Candoco Dance Company, at the invitation of the British Council, present In Translation accompanied by a piano piece by Johann Sebastian Bach. Duets, trios or solos by the dancers arise and unfold from a single motion sequence. This piece conveys dance with a new meaning: one of the artists is a wheelchair user. CandoCo has become internationally known as a professional dance company that integrates disabled and non-disabled dancers.

The finale of the festival “Europe meets Asia in Contemporary Dance” is on Sunday the 29th September, with the French production petiteshistoires.com. The choreographer Kader Attou and his Compagnie Accrorap play with elements of hip-hop. With humor and acrobatics they build a bridge between the French street art of multicultural French cities and the stage of the dance theater.

Program

L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien: Wednesday, 25th September, 8pm

Pre-Opening Underground

Youth Theatre Hanoi, 11 Ngo Thi Nham:

Thursday, 26th September, 8 pm

Grand Opening with all artists

Sillon

Alphard

Mushroom z

Friday, 27th September, 8pm

Alphard

Sillon

Lighting

Saturday, 28th September, 8pm

In Translation

Mushroom z

Lighting

Sunday, 29th September, 8pm

petiteshistoires.com

FREE TICKETS are available from 19 September at 2 pm at:

Goethe-Institut, 56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học, Hanoi

L’Espace, 24 Tràng Tiền, Hanoi

Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung, Hanoi

British Council, 20 Thụy Khuê, Hanoi

Institut Français de Hanoi – L’Espace

24 Trang Tien, Hanoi

Screening of Bill Morrison’s Films

DECASIA / LIGHT IS CALLING / THE FILM OF HER: 21 and 25 Sep 2013, 8 pm

THE MINERS’ HYMNS / PORCH / RELEASE / JUST ANCIENT LOOPS: 22 and 26 Sep 2013, 8 pm

Hanoi Cinematheque

22A Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội

THE ONION CELLAR proudly presents the official Vietnam premieres of a program of found-footage films by the renowned experimental filmmaker BILL MORRISON.

Main attractions are BILL MORRISON’s two (arguably) most well-known works: DECASIA and THE MINERS’ HYMNS, each accompanied by a number of short films

Each of these films will be screened twice on different dates.

Over the past fifteen years, BILL MORRISON has created a remarkable series of found-footage films that highlight the ravages of time and decay on the filmed image. These are as much celebrations of the sometimes-frightening beauty of decomposing film as laments for vanishing relics of cinema’s origin.

Although not drawing exclusively from early cinema, Morrison specialises in this originary epoch of movie history. On the material level, he appreciates the paradoxical fact that nitrate simultaneously offers what he considers the most perfect film image and is also notoriously unstable. Beyond this, he sees the invention of film as the only precisely locatable birth of an art form, one whose inception is not lost in the mists of time but is more or less contemporary with the emergence of modern man. From the decaying body of film, he extrapolates an analogy for the fate of the human mind and body.

As an introduction to his films, BILL MORRISON explains:

“The frame pauses briefly before the projector’s lamp, and then moves on. Our lives are accumulations of ephemeral images and moments that our consciousness constructs into a reality. No sooner have we grasped the present, it is relegated to the past, where it only exists in the subjective history of each individual. The images can be thought of as desires or memories: actions that take place in the mind. The film stock can be thought of as the body, that which enables these events to be seen. Like our own bodies, this celluloid is a fragile and ephemeral medium that can deteriorate in countless ways.”

DECASIA (2002)

DECASIA: THE STATE OF DECAY, BILL MORRISON’s moving avant-garde visual symphony, was edited entirely from found film footage left in archives that had decayed over time. The severe emulsion deterioration reveals the film stock in its basic chemical form and the images are stripped to their most primitive emotional state. The film was shaped to MICHAEL GORDON’s moving symphony performed by the 55-piece basel sinfonietta. The soundtrack is decaying itself: Gordon took the orchestra to musical extremes by detuning the instruments and using prepared pianos (in which various objects (pingpong balls, cutlery, etc) are placed on different parts of the pianos (strings, hammers, etc) to create different new sounds and tones) to further emphasize the powerful hallucinatory visual experience.

“Bill Morrison’s DECASIA is that rare thing: a movie with avant-garde and universal appeal… the film is a fierce dance of destruction.” – J. Hoberman, THE VILLAGE VOICE

“Compelling and disturbing! Swimming symphonies of baroque beauty emerge from corrosive nitrate disintegration as rockets of annihilation demolish cathedrals of reality.” – Kenneth Anger

THE MINERS’ HYMNS (2010)

Filmmaker and artist BILL MORRISON pries open the past, patching together a hypnotic collage of archival footage to reconstruct England’s vanishing mining communities. Northeast England was once dotted with coal mines, with entire communities living off the black gold pulled from the earth. That all ended after the 1984 miners’ strikes, with a brutal wave of police suppression and mine closures.

Morrison’s mesmerising film unearths vivid images of the coal towns’ heyday, piecing together a lost way of life rich with community and celebration, and marked by intolerably hard and dangerous work.

Even without having previous knowledge of the film, a viewer of Morrison’s careful selection will come away understanding the strong and cohesive narrative.

These specific miners are from the Durham coalfield area in the Northeast UK. At the beginning and near the end of the film are two aerial segments that contrast the past and present Durham area. What was once the pride of Durham has now become parking lots, malls and football stadiums. Where towns had once supported miners with parades for unions with power (“Miners fights your Battles” read one sign) the history is displaced. Even the protests and conflict which erupted in the ‘80s as the miners’ unions faced collapse and braced themselves against Thatcher’s free market agenda.

THE MINERS’ HYMNS is conceived as a collaborative project between Morrison and composer JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON, whose brass-heavy, electronic score is meant to recall the music of the colliery brass bands that are occasionally glimpsed in some of the film’s archival footage (especially during the glorious ending). Jóhannsson’s work, with its rousing crescendos, frequently lends a heroic air to the material, particularly during footage of the miners at work hacking out coal nuggets with their pickaxes or during a union procession that wends into a local cathedral, an impression aided by the gravitas-accentuating use of slow motion.

(Slant Magazine)

TICKETS: VND 50,000 (each screening) – available at doors   

Contemporary Dance “Underground”

Wed 25 Sep 2013, 8 pm

L’Espace

You are invited to contemporary dance performance called “Underground” of French dance group CHIROPTERA JOHN BATEMAN, choreographed by John Bateman. This is the pre-opening performance of Festival of Contemporary Dance 2013 “Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance”

Inspired by historical reality of the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, John Bateman and Nguyen Anh Duc reflect on the idea of Underground Life.

In honor of Vietnamese endurance, the performance assembles together dancers from both Europe and Vietnam in a reunion to develop an emotional program. Similar to non-stop underground journey of ants, or plying bees with their dance, the artists meet each other, breathe together, crisscross and intertwine, tirelessly, just take a short breath, like a living mass, a continuous stream…

FREE TICKETS are available from 19 September at 2 pm at:

Goethe-Institut, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc, Hanoi

L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi

Japan Foundation, 27 Quang Trung, Hanoi

British Council, 20 Thuy Khue, Hanoi

Seminar “Kafka – For a Minor Literature”

Wed 18 Sep 2013, 6 pm

IDECAF

28 Le Thanh Ton, Distr 1, HCMC

You are invited to the seminar on the occasion of launching the Vietnamese version of ”Kafka – For a minor literature” authored Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari, with the participation of the translator, professor Nguyen Thi Tu Huy.

Language of the seminar: Vietnamese

Free entrance.

Concert with Australian Duo Agostino

Thu 26 Sep 2013, 7.45 pm

VOV Theatre

58 Quan Su, Hanoi

Renowned Australia guitarists Janet and Raffaele Agostino – Duo Agostino – will perform at a special one-off concert at the Voice of Vietnam theatre in Hanoi on 26 September. The concert, organised by the Australian Embassy, will showcase pieces from their Under the Southern Skies album and as well as a Vietnamese piece called Di Cay.

The concert is a part of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Hugh Borrowman, said, “We have chosen Duo Agostino to perform for the Vietnamese audience because not only do they play the guitar beautifully, but they have also been successful in the development of the guitar as an ensemble instrument. This makes them very special.”

Duo Agostino are taking time out from a private visit to Vietnam to put on this special performance. They will also spend time on 27 September working with students at the National University of Art Education (NUEA). Janet commented, “Vietnamese appreciation of fine music is well known, so we are really looking forward to performing for a Vietnamese audience and working with Vietnamese students”.

This concert is among a series of activities that the Australian Embassy has organised to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam. Throughout 2013, the Australian Government is presenting an extensive program of cultural and educational events showcasing Australia as a creative and innovative partner and an inclusive multicultural society.

Already this year, Vietnamese audiences have enjoyed performances by Bangarra Dance Theatre, Australia’s leading Indigenous dance theatre group and Australian jazz trio Elixir, been inspired by the travelling science exhibition from Australia’s National Science & Technology Centre – Questacon – and watched young Vietnamese chefs in the, Aust-Viet Junior Chef Challenge.

About Duo Agostino

Raffaele and Janet share a strong interest in the development of the guitar as an ensemble instrument. They have both been active in organising and tutoring at the annual Sydney Guitar Summer School over the last 18 years. Together with fellow guitarist and composer Richard Charlton they form the “Sydney Guitar Trio”. This ensemble has performed extensively around Australia, as well as an overseas tour of Argentina, UK and Italy in 2001. The Trio has released a CD “One Hour To Madness and Joy”, an album of Australian compositions specially written for the group.

Raffaele and Janet have been regular performers at the Darwin International Guitar Festival, giving them the opportunity to perform new works for guitar with various other instruments. In July 2006 Duo Agostino appeared as featured artists at the Winchester Guitar Festival and whilst in the UK they recorded for their CD “Under the Same Sky”. Both Raffaele and Janet have been awarded Life membership by the Classical Guitar Society, Sydney, for their significant and sustained contribution.

FREE TICKETS to Duo Agostino concert are available from 16 September 2013 on a first come first served basis at:

- VOV office (58 Quan Su, Hanoi)

- The Australian Embassy (8 Dao Tan, Ba Dinh, Hanoi)

Mid-Autumn Festival

Wed 18 Sep 2013, 6 – 9 pm

Casa Italia

18 Le Phung Hieu, Hanoi

The Mid-Autumn Festival is among the most important ones in the Lunar Calendar, only second to the Lunar New Year. We celebrate the Festival on the 15th day of the 8th Lunar month, when the moon is biggest and brightest. Traditionally, the Festival is for children, but nowadays it has become an occasion to stay together, making and giving moon cakes and watching the spectacular traditional dance of the Lion.

On occasion of this Mid-Autumn Festival, come to a party for all the children and everyone who wants to revive the old traditions of the Festival with the following program:

- 18.00 – 18.30: Videoclip and presentation about the traditional festival

- 18.30 – 20.00: Lion-head painting, moon cakes preparing and baking

- 20.00 – 20.30: Lion dance with local traditional artists

- 20.30 – 21.00: Baking done, everyone goes party!

Tickets: 200.000VND/child (materials for lion-head painting and moon cakes baking included; free for parents).

THERE WILL BE PRIZE FOR THE BEST MADE LION-HEAD AND MOON CAKE!!!

Please register for tickets before 14th September 2013 sending an email to: info@uni-italia.vn or calling to 043 824 0579.

Mid-autumn Festival CUPID FESTIVAL 2013

Sun 15 Sep 2013, 8 am – 10 pm

Zone 9

9 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi

CUPID FESTIVAL 2013 is a wonderful opportunity for you to experience a lively and colorful mid-autumn festival. All the money will be donated to children suffering from severe financial difficulty and life-threatening illnesses.

Activities of the festival:

- Book fair with interesting activities.

- Handmade fair, fancy space to take photos

- Music and street dance with flashmob “Bring it all back”

All the money will be donated to pediatrics of poor families in National Hospital of Pediatrics.

Free entrance.