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The multimedia art exhibition "The Essence" by artist PSI (Pham Ha Phuong) brings together 21 portraits of women from Vietnam and Italy, representing diverse professions. The exhibition is organized by the Italian Embassy in Hanoi in collaboration with Bat Trang Museum.
This collection brings together 21 portraits of outstanding women from diverse professions, who have made significant contributions to society and represent multiple generations of women in Vietnam and Italy.
The exhibition features other inspiring women such as social activist Helly Tong, inspirational speaker Thao Nhi Le, singer GiGi Huong Giang, MC Thuy Minh, singer Le Cat Trong Ly, People's Artist Le Khanh, actress Kaity Nguyen… as well as those seeking to discover their own identities.
The true self of Kaity Nguyen
In an exhibition space arranged in multiple layers with a combination of light, projection technology, fabrics, mirrors, and stainless steel, viewers can admire unique artworks created by artist PSI. She is known as a makeup artist with a deep love and passion for art. "The Self" is considered the first art exhibition by a makeup artist in Vietnam.
Helly Tong's persona through the creative talent of artist PSI.
Artist PSI shared that she and her collaborators spent three months working on the exhibition, but the idea for it had been brewing in her mind for three years.
“It is the women around me, those closest to me like my mother and grandmother, to singers, actresses, businesswomen... those I have had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with throughout my 15 years in the profession, who have provided the creative inspiration for this exhibition. Each person has their own story, but they all share a common goal of spreading positive inspiration to society,” shared artist PSI.
The plaster artwork is easily recognizable as the work of People's Artist Le Khanh.
To create the works for the exhibition project "The Self," artist PSI used life-casting techniques (creating three-dimensional replicas of the living human body through the use of molding techniques).
Twenty-one figures were directly molded into silhouettes, then transformed into artworks using various materials such as plaster, ceramics, and lacquer. Each portrait, each embodiment of a woman, was depicted differently by the artist. For some, the artist portrayed the essence through the face, for others through the chest, the back, a leg, or the hands…
"The Essence" brings together 21 portraits of outstanding women from Vietnam and Italy, representing diverse professions.
Model Trang Pham's true essence is a pair of ceramic legs.
Most prominent are faces. Some of the artworks displayed at this exhibition even evoke the famous Venetian masks of Italy, which are meticulously handcrafted from plaster, leather, and papier-mâché using traditional techniques.
Beyond simply viewing the artwork in the traditional, direct format, the public can also explore it in novel ways, such as through reflections in strategically placed mirrors. This seems like a metaphor, prompting people to seek out the different and unique aspects of each person they consider familiar and well-known.
The artworks at this exhibition are reminiscent of the famous Venetian masks of Italy, which were meticulously handcrafted using plaster, leather, papier-mâché, and other traditional techniques.
Along with the exhibited artworks, information boards featuring the artworks include QR codes that allow viewers to access links and read the stories and personal reflections of the subjects.
The exhibition "The Essence" is open to the public until May 7, 2023, at Casa Italia - Italian Cultural and Brand Center, 18 Le Phung Hieu Street, Trang Tien Ward, Hanoi.
Here are some images from the "Being" exhibition:
Creative Director Ha Do's persona is made from Bat Trang ceramics.
The term for these works is life-casting, which refers to the process of creating a three-dimensional replica of a living human body through the use of molding and casting techniques, commonly used in film.
Dutch businessman Anh with chrome-plated plastic material
The physical form of Ms. Mai Thi Tuyet Nhung (housewife) consists of two arms made of wood.
The true self of MC Thùy Minh
The true self of businesswoman Nguyen Thi Nhung
Artist Nân using plaster as a medium.
Exhibition space
Visitors come to see the exhibition.
