Exhibition “Face to Face”

Opening: Thu 26 Apr, 6 pm
Exhibition: 26 Apr – 08 May 2012
Art Talk Cafe
12 Quan Su Str, Hanoi

You are invited to the self portrait exhibition FACE TO FACE at Art Talk Cafe.

Exhibition “A Transformative Disguise”

Opening: Thu 26 Apr, 6 pm
Exhibition: 27 Apr – 25 May 2012
Sàn Art
3 Mê Linh, District Bình Thạnh, HCMC

Sàn Art presents ‘A Transformative Disguise’, a solo traveling exhibition by Ho Chi Minh City-based artist, Le Hoang Bich Phuong, co-produced by Sàn Art and the Japan Foundation, opening 26 April at 6pm at Sàn Art. This exhibition is the artist’s first solo show and will transform the gallery space of Sàn Art, playing with ideas of reflection and transparency, encouraging the audience to question what kind of masks they may be wearing in their own everyday.

Crows are superstitiously considered unlucky in Vietnam so when Le Hoang Bich Phuong found herself in Sapporo, Japan lost in her attempt to find an art supply store, she was hesitant to approach the only shop on the street that was surrounded by a flock of these black, loud birds. A Japanese man stepped forward to help her find her destination by a hand drawn game of Pictionary. From that day forward, crows have ceased to be unlucky for Bich Phuong. Such personal encounters are frequently referenced in the work of this emerging artist whose recall of human character is cunningly, at times comically analogous to the myths of the animal world.

In this exhibition a series of portraits in silk, representing herself, including various strangers and friends both real and imagined, wear the facial mask of particular animals — donkeys with buckteeth possess skeletal hands; an old bear towers like an oversized hooded jacket over a young child’s face; a pig sits sickly with a dripping and swelling red nose; or a Japanese operatic mask of a fox stands pulling at her lips as if she cannot speak. Deftly painted in subtle watercolor tones, what these images refer are the indulgent and insecure habits of the human condition.

A Transformative Disguise by Le Hoang Bich Phuong

Fascinated with the way established and vernacular mythological narrative can offer moral or ethical lessons; Le Hoang Bich Phuong playfully alludes to a myriad of cultural tradition from Japanese and Vietnamese fairytale to insightful re-readings of Aesop and children’s nursery rhymes. In her world, the donning of invisible masks is a frequent practice in contemporary life where either by means of survival or psychological insecurity, these masks appears to offer some kind of protection. Accompanying these paintings is a series of miniature ceramic sculptures whose human bodies have bonded with their masks; some have limbs that are missing, while another has a fish tank for a brain. What Le Hoang Bich Phuong questions in ‘A Transformative Disguise’ are whether these masks once worn, can ever truly be removed.

This traveling exhibition will open in Hanoi from the 28 June – 27 July, 2012. Address: 27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

Le Hoang Bich Phuong (b. 1984, Ho Chi Minh City) is one of Vietnam’s most promising young artists whose study of Vietnamese and Japanese silk painting traditions has greatly influenced her own unique style and technique. Influenced by the ukiyo-e tradition, while also drawn to the popular world of the comic, her strong command of line and color creates an ethereal, near surreal presence. A graduate of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts University, she was awarded an artist-in-residence in Sapporo, Japan, as part of the ‘JENESYS Program: Invitation Program for Creators’ of the Japan Foundation in 2011 and that same year was also one of the finalists for the DOGMA Art Prize in self-portraiture. In 2010 she was finalist in the ‘Talent Prize’ of the Cultural Development and Exchange Fund. Recent exhibitions include ‘Sapporo Biennale 2011’, Sapporo, Japan, 2011; ‘Shaping a line’, Sàn Art, 2011; ‘Saigon Contemporary’, La Lanta Fine Art Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand, 2011.

Europe – Vietnam Documentary Film Festival

Goethe Institut Vietnam
Europe – Vietnam Documentary Film Festival is calling for applications
Deadline: 04 May 2012

The Central Studio for documentary and scientific films and the European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) would like to invite young Vietnamese filmmakers to participate in the European Documentary Film Festival. This is the 4th time the Central Studio for Documentary and Scientific Films in collaboration with 10 cultural agencies and embassies of the European Union  organizes the Europe-Vietnam Documentary Film Festival in Hanoi and Danang within the framework of EUNIC.

For the first time, a special section will be allocated for the screening of documentary films made by young Vietnamese filmmakers. We would like to call for the participation of Vietnamese filmmakers. The Judging Panel will select the best films for the Festival.

Announcement time: 15 May 2012

Please send your film to:
Programme Section
Hanoi Goethe Institute
56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tel. +84 4 37342251
Fax +84 4 37342254

On the package, please clearly state: Films for Europe-Vietnam Documentary Film Festival and the following information: full name, address, contact numbers on the DVD/CD and film synopsis (production date, and time).

Meet artist Pham Huy Thong

Wed 25 Apr 2012, 7.30 pm
Bookworm
44 Chau Long, Ha Noi

Meet internationally acclaimed artist Pham Huy Thong in a relaxed ‘bia hoi’ atmosphere on the roof terrace of the Hanoi Cooking Center.
Thing has had successful exhibitions of his satirical paintings in Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, Japan and the USA. His work is sought after by private collectors.
Thong will have limited, original, inexpensive sketches on paper of his work for sale (framed and unframed)….real collectors’ items.

Free entry. Free flow bia hoi…street food for sale.
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL, bookworm@fpt.vn, 04 37153711

Exhibition “Cover of Reality”

Opening: Tue 24 Apr, 5.30 pm
Exhibition: 24 – 29 Apr 2012
Viet Art Centre
42 Yết Kiêu, Hà Nội

You are invited to the lacquer painting exhibition and the installation of artist Luu Tuyen reflecting the contemporary society. The exhibition “THE COVER OF REALITY” is the result of a long time studying of the artist. He uses dolls to connect with the internal problems which have been camouflaged so well.

Spanish Film Festival

12 Apr – 10 May 2012
Cinematheque
22A Hai Ba Trung St., Hanoi

You are invited to Spanish Film Festival. Films are screened with original Spanish with English subtitles and Vietnamese people can ask for earphones (showing the Vietnamese ID Card) when arriving to the Cinematheque.

There are no tickets. First come, first served. It is better to arrive 20-30 min before to have seats available.

Screening of “L’Empire du Milieu du Sud”

Tue 24 Apr 2012, 8 pm
Cinematheque
22A Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

The French Community in Hanoi presents their monthly screenings at Hanoi Cinematheque with selected Vietnamese and Vietnam-related films in French or with French subtitles. On Tue 24 Apr they will present a historical documentary – L’ EMPIRE DU MILIEU DU SUD.

Ticket

Ticket price: 60 000 VND, 50 000 VND with members of Cinematheque
Limited seats. Register at sautierprady@gmail.com before 22 Apr.

Move It 2012 Final Stage

Sat 21 Apr 2012, 7 pm
Savico Mega Mall
7 – 9 Nguyen Van Linh Str, Long Bien Dist, Hanoi

From the organizer:

Come to the final stage of Move it 2012 (Hiphop Battle Dancing Contest). There will have 8 teams participated at the final night: Big Wave, CunCun, C.A.P, Lẩu, Loggers, Milky Way, S.U.D, Omega.

For more information, visit their website or contact:

Ms. Nguyen Thuy Hien – 0123.955.0101/ Ms. Phan Thi My Huyen – 01222.666.192

Film Photography Installation Jo Ha Kyū

Opening: Tue 24 Apr, 6 pm
Exhibition: 25 Apr – 24 May 2012, 9.30 am – 6 pm
Artist Talk: Sat 05 May 2012, 3 pm
Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung
Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội

The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam proudly presents a film and photography installation “Jo Ha Kyū” by Nguyen Trinh  Thi & Jamie Maxtone-Graham in Hanoi from April to May 2012.

Jo Ha Kyū is an essential concept of the narrative structure in all traditional Japanese temporal arts. Likened by Noh creator, Zeami, to a small stream expanding into a river which eventually becomes a waterfall that crashes into a still pond, Jo Ha Kyū encapsulates the idea, in simplest terms, of a beginning, middle and end.

Tokyo, one of the biggest cities in the world, has been inspiring a plethora of foreign artists to create new artworks based on their experiences in this unique megalopolis. One such example is the critically acclaimed feature film “Lost in Translation” (2003) directed by Sofia Coppola.

Highly sophisticated foreign eyes more often than not shed beautiful light on ordinary life in Japan from different angles and cause us to become aware of hidden attractiveness of our daily life.

The case of Nguyen Trinh Thi, one of the promising independent film makers in Vietnam, and Jamie Maxtone-Graham, her husband and a prominent photographer, is not the exception. They spent some months in Tokyo and their drifting around the big city fruited one short film and 60 pieces of photography.

Mr. Yoshioka, Deputy Director of the Japan Foundation comments: “By Seeing abstract moving images of Tokyo directed by Trinh Thi and LED lighted-up photography of common people and ordinary scenes in Tokyo framed by Jamie, even I, who have been living in Tokyo for over 25 years, could refresh my eyes on the familiar city and experienced the new world of Tokyo re-built by the two artists. It is a quite new experience”.

We do hope that the audience will enjoy not only the artistic value of the film and photography but also the new dimension of Tokyo through the beautifully installed artworks even without visiting Tokyo, one of the most expensive cities for living.

Free of admission.

Artist’s profile

Nguyen Trinh Thi is a Hanoi-based independent documentary filmmaker and video artist. She studied journalism and photography at the University of Iowa and International Studies and ethnographic film at University of California, San Diego. Her documentary and experimental films have been screened at festivals and art exhibitions across Asia, Europe, and the USA – including Oberhausen International Film Festival; Bangkok Experimental Film Festival; Artist Films International; Summer Exhibition 2011, DEN FRIE Centre of Contemporary Art, Copenhagen; Unsubtitled, solo video installation, NhaSan Studio, Hanoi; ‘PLUS/ Memories and Beyond – 10 Solo Exhibitions by 10 Asian Artists’, Kuandu Biennale, Taipei; and ‘No Soul For Sale 2’, Tate Modern, London. Nguyen Trinh Thi founded Hanoi DocLab, a center for documentary filmmaking and video art in Hanoi, in 2009.

Artist’s note: In this experimental film, the concept is loosely interpreted against the subjective experience of the filmmaker being in the contemporary space and time of Tokyo. I made this work because — like with other works, I like to experiment — with moving images, to see how one can tell stories or express oneself in different ways. In this work, the particular space is Tokyo, and  the particular time is the summer of 2011. The city gave me certain impressions and feelings, but there were also other emotions and events that were happening in the background of my personal experience that had little to do with Tokyo. I wanted to put all of these into the work — to make it like a time capsule, a recorded memory. In a way, the piece is about the conflict and co-existence of the concrete and abstract worlds, between objective observances and subjective experience, narrative and non-narrative, documentary and fiction.

Jamie Maxtone-Graham has a professional background of more than 20 years in commercial and narrative cinematography. As a guild Director of Photography in New York and Los Angeles, his works range from independent to mainstream feature films, episodic television and advertising. In 2007 he became a Fulbright Fellow, receiving a grant funding his proposal to photograph contemporary youth culture in present day Vietnam. He currently lives in Hanoi and continues to shoot commercials and narrative films, produce documentaries and personal photography projects. His photography was previously published on burn Magazine, Trans Asia Photography Review, Culture Hall and tiny vices and exhibited in Hanoi, London and Bangkok.

Artist’s note: When one is in a new place for the first time, one’s senses become somewhat more attuned to this unfamiliar environment – what one hears and, particularly in my own case, what one sees is fresh. I was interested in the way this opportunity might affect my working process – the way in which what I was seeing might influence how I would see.

During the six weeks I spent in Tokyo shortly after the earthquake in March 2011, there was an interesting atmosphere – literally. Was there radiation in the air from the leaking Fukushima nuclear plant in the north? Certainly. Could it be ignored and daily life proceed. Apparently. I went about the city with my wife and my daughter and made these images in a way both conscious and ignorant of this and so many other things.

Music Night with The Yard Dogs

THE YARD DOGS
Fri 20 Apr 2012, 9 pm
The North 21 Club
49 Lang Yen Phu, Hanoi

After a highly successful three week tour of the south taking in Saigon and Phnom Penh… THE ELECTRIC YARD DOGS are back in their regular yard, the 21N CLUB this week.

Music Night “Beats the Best”

Fri 20 Apr 2012, 8 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi

☆ UK rapper AJ live on the mic
☆ Spacespeakers and Touliver beatmaking showcase
☆ Dirty Fingrz on the decks
☆ Ravers on the dance floor!

About artists

One to watch: rapper, freestyler and lyricologist AJ ripped up the Red Room @ HRC once before and now he’s back to do it all over again. This is a hip hop artist who knows good music: quoting Michael Jackson, Wu-Tang Clan, Sizzla and Big L as his influences, he has shared the stage with Chase & Status, Ed Sheeran, Example, Annie Mac, and supported Beatbullyz on their UK tour.

AJ’s smart, sharp style, on stage buoyancy and slick, clever word play spill out at the rate of motorbikes on a Hanoi crossroad. He mixes old school with the new, and he’s bringing his brand spanking material fresh from the studios in Australia before he return to the big time back in UK.

The time has come for beat music to get serious! Special guests Touliver and Spacespeakers will be making a live beat making showcase. See for yourselves how Hanoi’s hottest producers are doing it, and a very special announcement will be made on this night, 20th April, that nobody who is interested in beat music can afford to miss.

DJ Dirty Fingrz, who will also be supporting Tha Trickaz live in Saigon this weekend, will be collaborating with AJ in Beats The Best and bringing some of his own sounds to get our bass blood flowing.

Hosted by Ha Le of Sacred Entertainment.

Ticket

Ticket price: 100 000 VND at door (includes one free beer)

Tha Trickaz for the Gravity Games

Sun 22 Apr 2012, 6 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi

To celebrate Earth Day on Sunday, April 22nd, we are happy to present you the Gravity Games Festival. Gravity Games is a sport festival gathering all the nascent communities of urban sports and there will have music party featuring Tha Trickaz (France),a famous electro/hip-hop group on international tour, Peppe_IT (Italy), Jase (Saigon), Slo-Lo (Hanoi) and more…

Self-labelled “Tha Vietnamists” and lifelongtime friends, Pho & DJ iRaize, founded the group over eight years ago, based on a mutual need to push musical boundaries as well as their own technical limits. They are based in Paris, France.

Their live performances best illustrate the magic of combined imagination: rare and traditional vinyl cut up with sampling,
scratching, analog instruments, live musicians & the MPC real time drumming. All this combined with killer beats to shake the floor! They played alongside international artists such as Kid Koala, Wu Tang Killa Beez, Mix Master Mike, Busdriver, The Scratch Perverts, Wax Tailor,Dj Kentaro and even skateboard legend Tony Hawk for the Quicksilver Tony Hawk Show in Paris.

The originality of their music has initiated worldwide collaborations with respected artists such as Shabazz the Disciple, Killarmy, Hell Razah (Sunz Of Man), Tariq.L , Genghis Khan, Non Genetic, Mc Yoke (Tokyo), Ali (45 Scientific), La Fine Equipe (Paris).

Wax Tailor “Say Yes” 2009 remix contest winner & “Découvertes du printemps de bourges 2009”, they released their first unofficial LP, “Iconoclast Sound Adventure” in 2005. This year they’re releasing “The Cloud EP”, featuring 3 tracks from the forthcoming album “Cloud Adventures” and “Megaphone”.

Tha Trickaz represent the perfect combination between 90’s hip hop and electro music such as dubstep or drum & bass.

Ticket

Free for the participants of the Dong Da sport contests. Non participants: 100,000 VND

An Evening of Opera at LUNA – Programme 17

Wed 25 Apr 2012, 8.30 pm
Luna d’Autunno, Hanoi
78 Tho Nhuom
Hoan Kiem Distr. – Ha Noi

Another evening for lovers of opera at Luna d’Autunno.
This is a monthly event, and a great chance to enjoy live opera in an informal and intimate setting.
This month: An Evening with G. Verdi

Detailed program below:



“Green Art Weekend” – Movies on Climate Change

Goethe Institut Vietnam
56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học
Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Sat 21 Apr 2012, 7 – 8.30 pm
Sun 22 Apr 2012, 9.30 – 11.30 am/ 2 -8.30 pm

Activities program of the exhibition “Riverscapes IN FLUX” for a young audience in cooperation with “Live and Learn International”: Science slam, poster exhibition, talks and film screenings on the topic of climate change and a free guided tour of the exhibition by students of the University of Fine Arts.

Within the framework of the exhibition „Riverscapes IN FLUX“ the Goethe-Institut Hanoi will organize the "Green Art Weekend“ on 21th and 22th April with interactive events for the whole family.

The weekend starts with a film screening on Saturday evening. The film „About Water“ shows the development of destructive floods and catastrophic droughts in Africa or Asia as a result of climate change. Various activities invite families, children and young adults to deal with subjects like „environment and sustainability“ in a creative and playful manner.

On Sunday morning experts will do short presentations, accompanied by photos and films, on the topic „environment and river landscapes in Vietnam“, followed by a discussion with the audience. In the afternoon, among a wide choice of activities such as „Painting-Action“, „Recycling-Games“ or „Flash Mob Dancing“, filmlets by young filmmakers will provide information about climate change and its impacts on river landscapes.

The „science slam“ offers a novel and very entertaining way to learn more about climate change and environmental protection. Students from different universities in Hanoi will present with a good sense of humour themes like climate change, environmental protection and riverscapes. The audience is invited to award a prize to the best presentation and to have lots of fun!!

At the same time you have the opportunity to enjoy a free guided tour of the exhibition “Riverscapes IN FLUX” by students of the University of Fine Arts in the Fine Arts Museum.

Photovoice Exhibition My Culture - Conversations in Open Spaces

Opening: Wed 18 April, 4 pm
Exhibition: 18 – 22 April 2012
Ly Thai To Park, near Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi

You are invited to a photovoice exhibition “MY CULTURE – Conversations in Open Spaces”. Photovoice enables ethnic minorities to self-explore and proud to introduce the beauty of their cultures. People who never took a picture before have now created thousands of unique and vibrant pieces of photography. Each photo reveals a true story explored and told by a photo taker.

Nine ethnic groups participate in Photovoice by the Institute of Social Studies, Economics and Environment (ISEE) shall include: Si Hmong, Dao black (Yen Bai), Black H’mong, Red Dao (Lao Cai), Muong, Thai (Thanh Hoa), Pa Co and Van Kieu (Quang Tri), and Khmer (Soc Trang).

The exhibition gathers 150 outstanding works from hundreds of thousands of her children had photographs taken within four months. These photos are beautiful composition and color, contain its strong message of community life. Enclosed are pictures and interesting story, full of suggestive. Special value of the exhibition, from Photovoice method, the images are taken from an insider’s perspective, what the professional photographers work hard to get.


Art Event Contamination

Sat 28 Apr 2012, 8 pm
Cinematheque
22A Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội

PROJECT BLACK returns this month with its fifth documentary of Vietnamese artists excluded from the mainstream. This time we are showing “CONTAMINATION “ featuring Dang Xuan Hung who having quit his very successful career as an interior designer now has become a full time artist to express what concerns him most.

This is the pollution in the modern world both in the physical environment and also the interior world of our mind. He captures this in large distressing canvasses that seem to evoke the depths of the Buddhist hell while he himself maintains a strict almost Zen like self discipline. We follow him on one day of his life from the early morning run along the Red River to the depth of this interior Hell he creates in his studio.

Enrolment for Class “We are filmmakers”

Class “We are filmmakers” H25 – H26: is calling for enrolment
Deadline: 10 May 2012

After 3 years, with 24 free filmmaking classes in Hanoi, “We are filmmakers” project of TPD center has trained about 400 students, made 100 documentaries and 40 short features. Besides, the project has built up a community for young cinema lovers.

Since 2009, all training programs and events of the project has been sponsored by Ford Foundation. However, due to global economic crisis, Ford Foundation closed representative office as well as stopped all activites in Vietnam. As a result, TPD center has  no more financial sponsor to maintain free filmmaking classes.

In 2012, TPD center will charge fee for filmmaking classes. The revenue will be used to pay for lecturers and lecturer assisatants and project activities. From 10th February 2012 to 10th May 2012, “We are the filmmakers” will continue to enroll students for H25 – H26 class. Each course includes 10 lessons for documentaries and 10 lessons for short features.

Number of  students: 40
Timetable: 1 lesson/week (Sunday morning or afternoon)
Cost:
- Documentary course: 80.000 VND/lesson, total 800.000VND/course
- Short feature course: 80.000 VND/lesson, total 800.000VND/course

Any pupils/students living in Hanoi are eligible for registration.
All the candidates are required to take a writing test before the interview.
Email: chungtalamphim@tpd.vn
Notice: Please send your application and questions, if any, via the email above with the subject “Re: H25 – H26”    
    
Artists’ Talk “The Propeller Group: Static Friction”

Thu 19 Apr 2012, 6 – 7.30 pm
Galerie Quynh, 65 De Tham Street, District 1, HCMC

Galerie Quynh will present ‘The Propeller Group: Static Friction’, an Artists’ Talk focusing on the current exhibition at the gallery by Ho Chi Minh City and Los Angeles-based collective The Propeller Group.

This event is free and open to the public. The talk will be conducted in Vietnamese and English.

Contact: Ms. Lisa Boulet; Mr. Tung Mai lisa@galeriequynh.com; tung@galeriequynh.com

Contemporary Dance Show MOC

25 and 26 Apr 2012, 8 pm
HCMC Opera House
No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC

Arabesque presents the contemporary dance “MOC”. This is an art work of 3 Vietnamese choreographers: Tan Loc, Ngoc Anh and Ngoc Khai after many years of studying and working in other countries. Tan Loc has studied in Japan and Germany, Ngoc Anh lives and works in the UK as a performer and a professional choreographer and continues working as a choregrapher in Hong Kong. Ngoc Khai has performed in many European theaters (The Netherlands, Switzerland, Danmark…).

Tan Loc introduces “HUE” in MOC. Hue has the typical Vietnamese woman figure. She lives in a busy life with its ups and downs but always keeps the Vietnamese identity.

Ngoc Khai brings about “Connections” in MOC: “The human being – the center of the universe, the perfect creation of nature are always connect with each other in their relations among each other and with the nature. Life is a series of movements and connections. May be that’s the reason why life is always interesting and urges us to explore regardless of whoever we are!”

Ngoc Anh brings to the show two works “The Footprint” and “Returning Home” which marks his returns back to his hometown and works as director and professional choreographer. “The Footprint” is the love story of trees and earth, the connection between the soil and the sun and “Returning Home” is about the story of a person who has left his country for many years and now when he comes back, he could deeply feel the love of his relatives…

With the participation of celloist Hong Anh, violinist Tang Thanh Nam, flutist Huyen Ly and other dancers at Arabesque.

Ticket

Contact Ms Hang at 0904074447

Discussion “From the Same Womb”

Wed 25 Apr 2012, 7.30 pm
Bookworm
44 Châu Long, Hà Nội Now

Come to a discussion with artist Pham Huy Thong. Using the paintings in his ‘Dong Bao’ – From the Same Womb – series, internationally acclaimed artist, 31 year old PHAM HUY THONG tells about the children of Au Co and their more recent  migrations, dispersals and activities.

Thong will have limited, original, inexpensive sketches on paper of his work for sale (framed and unframed)….real collectors’ items.

THEN:

Au Co was a fairy who lived in the mountains. One day a monster chased her and she turned into a crane to fly away. Lac Long Quan, a dragon king from the sea, saw her danger and killed the monster with a rock.  Au Co became a fairy again and fell in love with him. She bore an egg sac from which hatched 100 children. Au Co wanted to live in the mountains and he in the sea so they separated, each taking 50 children. She settled in the mountains of north Vietnamand the children became the Hung Kings. He returned to the sea and the children spread along the coast (the creation story….one version)

NOW:

Using the paintings in his ‘Dong Bao’ – From the Same Womb – series, internationally acclaimed artist, 31 year old PHAM HUY THONG tells about the children of Au Co and their more recent  migrations, dispersals and activities. Thong’s paintings  refer to images sourced from Vietnamese mythology thru to the present  from wherever Vietnamese live, procreate, work, play and dream

He has had successful exhibitions of his satirical paintings inSingapore,Malaysia,Korea,Japanand theUSA. His work is sought after by private collectors.

Thong is fluent in English and has a quick wit.

Entry : 50 000VND, students free entry. Free beer hoi…street food for sale

BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL, bookworm@fpt.vn, 04 37153711

HITS April Play Reading Night

Thu 19 Apr 2012, 7.30 pm
Puku Cafe
16/18 Tong Duy Tan Street (Food street)

On the third Thursday of every month, the Hanoi International Theatre Society takes a breather from its major stage productions to host an open-door Play Reading Night at a local café. Anyone with dramatic tendencies is welcome, from rising stars to total noobs.

Local directors lead warm-up exercises, then everyone dives into one role after another, sight unseen. (Just like speed dating, except with Russian dictators, murder suspects, Southern belles – you name it.) The best way to get in on Hanoi’s English-language theater scene.

Ticket

Ticket price: 50 000 VND at the door, or 20 000 VND for students.

Concert by Hanoi Strings Chamber Orchestra

Fri 20 Apr 2012, 8 pm
Concert Hall, Vietnam National Academy of Music
77  Hao Nam Str, Hanoi

You are invited to a concert by Hanoi Strings Chamber Orchestra. You can see program on the poster.

Ticket

Ticket prices: 200 000 VND, 50% deduction for students of VNAM.

Tickets are available at Building A1, VNAM. Contact Mr Ta Quang Dong at 0913 306 786.

Event “Bike Free”

Sun 22 Apr 2012, 9.30 am
QSI International School
17, lane 67, To Ngoc Van Str, Tay Ho Dist, Hanoi

A new organization, Bike Free, will be launched in Hanoi on Sunday, 22 April, 9.30-12 noon at the Earth Day Event in Tay Ho. Bike Free aims to promote bicycle usage to make Hanoi a cleaner city.

We are asking everyone to bring their bicycle to the event to decorate them and show our involvement and support as Bike Free Freeriders!

This is an event for all ages and is open to the public.

Reggae and African music night with Zamina

Fri 20 Apr 2012, 9 pm
Chez Xuan
41, lane 76 An Duong, Tay Ho Dist, Hanoi

Best not miss ZAMINA’s “Are you Ready” album at CHEZ XUAN on the 20th of April!

Machete.Sex.Mix will open the night, and after  ZAMINA’s first and second dope set, Hanoi’s favorite Electro Swing DJ/Selector KULTURE will most definitely keep those hyped out dancing feet of yours busy;-)

This event is FREE, so come, watch, dance and chill with us through the night!

Art Exhibition “Friendship”

Opening: Tue 17 Apr 2012, 5 pm
Exhibition: 17 – 24 Apr 2012
Korean Cultural Center
49 Nguyen Du Str, Hanoi

You are invited to the art exhibition “Friendship” by 28 Korean and Vietnamese artists.

Exhibition “Oxen – Human Beings”

Opening: Mon 16 Apr, 5.30 pm
Exhibition: 16 – 21 Apr 2012
Viet Art Centre
42 Yet Kieu, Hanoi

Is there any familiarity among a group of people in their lifestyles, thinkings and their customs, small behaviours and cows? Is there any familiarity among nice, gentle cows and a group of normal people? The artist Nguyen The Dung answers these questions with his exhibition titled “Oxen – Human Beings” at Viet Art Center.

Special Opera “The Child and the Spells”

18 and 19 Apr 2012, 8 pm
Hanoi Opera House, 01 Trang Tien, Hanoi

You are invited to the two special performances of the Opera “The Child and the Spells”(L’Enfant et les Sortilèges) of Maurice Ravel performed by 12 lead singers and 65 choir members of the Children Choir of the National Musical Theater in Paris.

The Child and the Spells

L’enfant et les sortilèges: Fantaisie lyrique en deux parties (The Child and the Spells: A Lyric Fantasy in Two Parts) is an opera in one act, with music by Maurice Ravel to a libretto by Colette. It is Ravel’s second opera, his first being L’heure espagnole. Written from 1917 to 1925, L’enfant et les sortilèges was first performed in Monte Carlo in 1925 under the baton of Victor de Sabata.

After being offered the opportunity to write a musical work, Colette wrote the text in eight days. Several composers were proposed to Colette to write the music, but she only was enthused with the prospect of Ravel.

Conductor and Artistic Director: Gaël Darchen
Choreographer: Sophie Meary
Costume: Xu Ming

Performers:
- the Child: Alix Le Saux – Mezzo-soprano
- the Flame and the Nightingale: Armelle Khourdoian – Soprano
- the Mother and the Owl: Rosalie Dubois – Mezzo Soprano
- Armchair and tree: Vincent Ruby – Bass
- the Girl shepherd and Bat: Laura Müller – Soprano
- A Chinese Cup and A Female Cat: Marine Chagnon – Mezzo Soprano
- A Teapot and A Male Cat: Simon Bièche – Tenor
- The Wall Clock: Charlie Guillemin – Bariton
- the Princess and a Squirrel: Mylène Bourbeau – Soprano
- The Old man: Theo Huỳnh – Tenor
- two dragonfly: Sophie Groelly and Clemence Varzegi – Mezzo Sopranos
- the wall clock and a paddock: Mehdi Hennadi – Tenor

Orchestra

- Vieillefon Marc : Violon
- Le Marec Christophe : Percussion
- Dusserre Hélène : Flute
- Jolin Cécile : Fagot
- Kiritchenko Igor : Cello
- Costarini Didier : Oboe
- Muller Laurent : Alto
- Nicolas Gilles : Piano
and 70 Chorus from Opera De Paris

Ticket:

Ticket prices : 550 000/350 000/200 000 VND
Tickets are available at Hanoi Opera House, 1 Trang Tien Str, Hanoi
& www.ticketvn.com, ticketvn@fpt.vn
For free delivery, call  0913489858, 0983067996, 35651806, +66617859 .

Performance of “Descendance”

Mon 16 Apr 2012, 7 pm
Youth Cultural House, 04 Phạm Ngọc Thạch St., District 1, HCMC

The Australian Consulate – General and the Youth Cultural House in Ho Chi Minh City are proud to present a special performance featuring one of Australia’s leading indigenous dance groups “Descendance”. Since being established in 1993, Descendance has performed extensively across Australia in movies, theatre, television, cultural centres and international festivals.

Descendance has also toured over 40 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States making them one of Australia’s leading international cultural exports to the world. Descendance was the winner of the World Dance and Peace Prize at the World Culture Open organised by UNESCO in Korea in 2004, where they competed among entrants from seventy countries.

For invitations, please email Ms Hang at chau-thuy.hang@dfat.gov.au.

Special Cabaret Night

Sat 21 Apr 2012, 8 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

Let’s relive the moments with the famous Serge Gainsbourg and his well-known songs performed by the Cabaret band at L’Espace.

Whether you are a singer, a musician or you can perform songs of famous musicians/poet, you can sing in French, Vietnamese or English, contact Cédric Drouard to participate in the Special Cabaret night at L’Espace: cedminimum@hotmail.fr

Free entrance.

Concert Beethoven 5th

25 and 26 Apr 2012, 8 pm
Worker Theater, 42 Trang Tien Str, Hanoi

You are invited to a concert with the performance of bassoonist Van Thanh Ha and VNSO orchestra. The concert will perform works of Ferdinad David and L.V.Beethoven. For more information, see below:

Program

Ferdinad David Concerto for Basson
L.V.Beethoven Symphony No.5 C minor Op.67

Ticket prices: 150 000, 250 000, 300 000 VND

All tickets  are available at Hanoi Opera House, Worker Theater or can book over  www.ticketvn.com, ticketvn@gmail.com

For delivery call: 0913489858, 0983067996

Screening of “Les femmes de L’Ombre”

Fri 20 Apr 2012, 8 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

You are invited to the film screening of “Les Femmes de L’Ombre” of director Jean-Paul Salomé, starred by Sophie Marceau, Julie Depardieu, Marie Gillain. The film has received César 2009 Award for Best Costume design for Pierre-Jean Larroque.

“The film is full of humanitarian moments and the messages delivered to the audience are quite touching” – stated by Metro Newspaper.

For more information on the film synopsis in French, visit L’Espace website

Tickets:
Ticket price: 20 000 VND
Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 10 000 VND
Tickets are available at L’Espace.

Noi Hanoi in May: Call for Submissions

Noi Hanoi is calling for submissions
Deadline: 29 Apr 2012

Noi Hanoi is looking for its next round of poets and short fiction writers to contribute to the upcoming event on May 13th. The theme of this month’s spoken word night is “nuoc/water/country” playing into the double meaning of the Vietnamese word. The theme is open to interpretation and form, with submissions in English, Vietnamese, or any other language fully welcome. To submit your poems or short fiction, email noihanoisubmissions@gmail.com no later than April 29. From these submissions, an hour long program will be put together, with some time reserved for an open mic section. The actual event on May 13 will start at 8pm at ATK on 73a Mai Hac De.

Discussion “The Stories Houses Tell”

Wed 18 Apr 2012, 7.30 pm
Bookworm
44 Châu Long, Hà Nội Now open every day 9am – 7pm

Linda Mazur came to Hanoi in 1998 and discovered that Hanoi is a city pulsing with life. Even the concrete has a heartbeat.

She revelled in French architecture,  pagodas and temples, the archaeology dig at the citadel, and tube houses…………………………… and then she discovered the unsung glories built in the 1930ies that are scattered around Thien Quang Lake and Ba Dinh….

Linda’s research has allowed these houses to tell  individual stories about their Vietnamese architects …. their modernist European influences…. the families who built and lived in them (and sometimes still do)

Her photographs and maps of THEN and NOW take in a swathe of Hanoi’s ever changing urban landscape and her entertaining discussion will make you wish that the concepts used in these buildings were still part of the city’s architectural language

Linda provides easy to use maps that show building locations

Entry : 50 000VND, students free entry. One complimentary wine or beer on arrival.
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL, bookworm@fpt.vn, 04 37153711