VietNamNet Bridge - A collaboration exhibition called ‘To Ho Chi Minh City with Love: A Social Sculpture’ by Phong Bui, is opening at San Art in Binh Thanh District.

Artist Phong Bui explains: “The exhibition is inspired by the idea of social sculpture, which is similarly motivated by the utopian belief in the potential of art to transform society, dreaming of a social organism as a work of art that could perhaps manifest as a token of my homage to the community of creative individuals in my very first trip to Vietnam since 1980.”

The exhibition is a co-operation by about 20 Vietnamese and international artists with over 20 artworks made of diverse materials such as mixed media, mirror, acrylic on fabric, metal, wood, zinc, ink, thread, paper, digital print, pencil, enamel on canvas or acrylic on canvas.

Unlike normal exhibitions with paintings hanging on walls or in cases, Phong Bui transforms the gallery space of San Art into a new spatial experience as paintings, photographs, drawings, video, poetry, music by local artists and much more will be featured, though perhaps not displayed in the typical conventional way visitors may expect.

Paintings ordinarily hung on the wall may be found leaning on the floor, while photographs usually framed and placed at eye level may be placed up high so you have to stand to view on tip-toe. Other works may be hung one on top of the other in a new kind of sculpture.

These are all deliberate gestures by Phong Bui who is interested in the social interactions between art and audience.

Phong Bui is an artist, writer, publisher and independent curator. His artistic practice plays with ideas of space, both physical and textual, often challenging how we choose to interact with principles of perspective. As a visual artist, his numerous installations have won the Award in Art from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Eric Isenbeurger Annual Prize for Installation from the National Academy Museum. His work has been included in numerous solo and group exhibitions in the USA, China, Greece and Italy. Between 2007-2009 he was curatorial advisor at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center/Museum of Modern Art, New York. He is also co-founder, editor and publisher of monthly publication ‘The Brooklyn Rail’.

Phong Bui was born in Hue and currently lives and works in New York City.

The show at Me Linh Street, Binh Thanh District runs until June 30.

Source: SGT