Art space inside the Parliament building

Although the National Assembly building was completed at the end of 2014, with complete architecture and equipment ensuring all parliamentary activities and featuring art spaces for public viewing, it was still not truly complete. Thanks to the ideas and directives of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, the attention and assistance of Hanoi city leaders, the support of sponsors, and the efforts of 15 artists, along with over 100 technical assistants and skilled craftsmen from across Hanoi, Thai Binh, and Thua Thien Hue, the artworks in the National Assembly tunnel were completed in mid-November 2018.

Diverse artworks, ranging from traditional lacquerware and open-world graphics to multimedia installations, video art on silk, relief photography, interactive bronze sculpture installations, and moving iron welding installations, covered over 500 meters in length within the large space designed to follow the topography of the three tunnel areas of the National Assembly building (the small tunnel, the large tunnel, and the parking garage tunnel).

Drawing inspiration from a diverse approach to contemporary art forms, the artists have used their works as a form of dialogue and creative reflection on the cultural, artistic, and architectural heritage throughout the nation's history. The artworks displayed in the National Assembly tunnel create an ideal artistic space connecting with the Thang Long and Pre-Thang Long Museums located beneath the National Assembly building. This can be considered an important contemporary art museum in Vietnam, and it will soon be open to the public.

According to the artists, this project was personally directed and closely monitored by the leaders of the National Assembly. Before starting, the artists were worried that working with state agencies often involved slogans and that their artistic ideas would be heavily interfered with, making implementation difficult. However, contrary to their expectations, the National Assembly Office listened to the artists' opinions, and especially National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who is a great lover of art, provided significant support to the artists.

For example, the woodblock print "Dien Hong Conference" by artists Pham Khac Quang and Vu Xuan Dong, measuring 1.8 meters high and 9 meters long, was originally planned for display in the underground parking garage for high-ranking state leaders. However, the artwork's grandeur moved the National Assembly, and the group was asked to move it to the main hall, to a more prestigious location. But because the size of the print was "tailor-made" for the garage space and was designed to complement the surrounding reliefs, the artists persevered despite the suggestion. Ultimately, the National Assembly decided to move the high-ranking leaders' vehicles elsewhere, giving the artwork its dignified space. This was unexpected and beyond the artists' expectations.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Huy - former Director of the National Assembly Museum - believes that nowhere else has transformed the driveways leading to the parking area for cars and motorbikes into art displays like at the National Assembly building. Many National Assembly deputies and visitors who have seen these artworks firsthand have been surprised, affirming that they have never seen such a beautiful underground parking garage. Many even jokingly said that they were so engrossed in admiring the artworks while going down to the garage to get their cars that they forgot to pick them up and leave!

However, this art space, along with the Archaeological Museum, still restricts visitor access, only accepting groups with official authorization. Many artists and visitors hope that the National Assembly will soon open it to the public so that people have the opportunity to admire this artistic space.

Ha Le