On December 7, a group exhibition titled Weaving Perspectives featuring the works of Rosemarie Trockel and Lai Dieu Ha opened at two cultural venues in Hanoi: the Vietnam Women’s Museum and The Outpost.

This pivotal event commemorates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Germany (1975–2025). It is co-organized by the Goethe-Institut Hanoi, the ifa (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, Germany), The Outpost, and the Vietnam Women’s Museum.

The exhibition presents the works of two prominent female artists from Vietnam and Germany, showcasing their bold voices in contemporary art. With over 60 artworks on display, the exhibition weaves perspectives on modern art, society, and human existence.

Lai Dieu Ha contributes four works, including paintings and soft sculptures crafted from fabric, representing four key stages of her artistic career. Meanwhile, Rosemarie Trockel displays conceptual works encompassing paintings, woven pieces, photographs, videos, and installations.

Twelve of these pieces are exhibited at the Vietnam Women’s Museum, while the remaining works are showcased at The Outpost.

One of Lai Dieu Ha’s installations, titled Who Am I, is constructed from stretch fabric, stuffed cotton, white thread, and an iron frame. Lai expressed her honor in collaborating with world-renowned conceptual artist Rosemarie Trockel. She noted that the exhibition facilitates mutual understanding between Vietnamese and German artists, fostering creativity and the creation of valuable art.

The exhibition is free to the public and runs until January 3, 2025, at both venues.

The exhibition includes talk shows, workshops, and expert-led tours designed to deepen public understanding of the artistic process and the messages conveyed by the works.

Rosemarie Trockel’s Untitled (Drawing Machines) series, for example, features: Untitled 1 (Drawing Machine) (1990): Comprising a drawing machine and seven paintings; Untitled 38 (1992); Untitled 10 (1994).

Rosemarie Trockel, a globally influential conceptual artist, has left an indelible mark on art history. The Weaving Perspectives exhibition marks her debut in Southeast Asia as part of ifa’s traveling exhibition series, which has also featured other leading German artists such as Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, and Georg Baselitz.

Trockel’s work has previously been exhibited in 42 locations across various countries. 

Lai Dieu Ha: Born in 1976 in Hanoi into a family with a rich artistic tradition, Lai Dieu Ha has spent nearly 20 years expanding the boundaries of performance art in Vietnam. She is recognized as one of the country’s most significant performance artists, whose work challenges and redefines the concept of performance art itself. Her contributions have earned her widespread acclaim both domestically and internationally.

In 2023, she won the Silver Award in Vietnam’s UOB Painting of the Year competition, one of the most prestigious visual arts awards in Asia. By 2024, her soft sculptures - designed to be both functional and easily integrated into daily life - had become a central focus of her practice.

Rosemarie Trockel: As one of the most significant living female conceptual artists, Rosemarie Trockel is celebrated for her pioneering work that challenges societal norms and explores themes of identity, feminism, and the human condition.

Untitled (Painting Machine) by artist Rosemarie Trockel: