The exhibition, titled "Weaving Perspectives", is held at two main locations: The Outpost Art Center (2nd Floor, Building B1, Roman Plaza, To Huu, Dai Mo, Nam Tu Liem) and the Vietnamese Women's Museum (36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi). This is not only an opportunity for the Vietnamese public to access international contemporary art, but also an opportunity for two talented artists to share inspiring creative stories through their works. This exhibition is part of a series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam, marking an important milestone in cultural cooperation between the two countries.
Rosemarie Trockel: Breaking the boundaries of art and gender
Rosemarie Trockel is one of the world's leading conceptual artists, known for her ability to use a variety of materials and ideas to create works that deeply reflect society. Born in 1952 in Schwerte, Germany, she began her career in the 1980s, when contemporary art was still dominated by men. Trockel quickly established herself with a bold, innovative approach that constantly challenged stereotypes about gender and the role of women in art.
The exhibition is initiated by the German Institute for Foreign Relations and Goethe-Institut Hanoi.
This exhibition presents more than 60 of her representative works, including textiles, paintings, photography, videos and installations, reflecting her artistic journey spanning more than four decades. Everyday materials such as wool, eggs, hair and even electric stove heating plates are used creatively to tell meaningful stories. Notably, this is the first time Trockel's works are displayed in Southeast Asia, marking the expansion of the traveling exhibition series organized by the German Institute for Foreign Relations (ifa), which has visited 42 major cities around the world.
Everyday materials such as wool, eggs, hair and even electric stove heating trays are used by her.
Rosemarie Trockel’s background played a significant role in shaping her artistic thinking. As the first German female artist to represent her country at the Venice Biennale in 1999, Trockel not only brought a fresh perspective to conceptual art but also promoted the feminist movement in art. Together with her close friend Monika Sprüth, she founded the magazine Eau de Cologne to celebrate female artists such as Jenny Holzer, Barbara Kruger and Louise Bourgeois.
The magazine became an important platform, contributing to breaking the dominance of male artists in that period. However, Trockel did not want her art to be confined within a gendered prism. She once shared that art should be approached with feeling and imagination, without the need for rigid explanations. This exhibition is an opportunity for Vietnamese audiences to discover and feel the profound messages hidden in each of her works.
More than 60 conceptual works by Rosemarie Trockel, from paintings, photographs, videos to installations, are presented at the exhibition.
Lai Dieu Ha: Pioneering voice of Vietnamese performing arts
Lai Dieu Ha (right), a pioneering Vietnamese performance artist
Also appearing in the exhibition is Lai Dieu Ha, a pioneering Vietnamese performance artist, who will bring works representing her nearly two decades of career. Born in 1976 in Hanoi, into a family with a rich artistic tradition, Lai Dieu Ha graduated from the Hanoi University of Fine Arts in 2005. She quickly became a phenomenon in the Vietnamese art world thanks to her performances that used the body as an artistic tool. The way she combined the fierce and the poetic in each work has made a strong impression, not only in Vietnam but also internationally. Lai Dieu Ha is the first Vietnamese female artist to sell her performance works in video form, opening a new direction for performance art in her country.
This exhibition will feature four representative works by Lai Dieu Ha, representing four important creative stages in her career. These works do not only stop at performance art but also extend to other forms such as painting, soft sculpture and archival. In recent years, Lai Dieu Ha has gradually withdrawn from the role of a live performance artist to a new approach which she shared at the exhibition as "letting the work perform itself". This is a way for her to liberate art from fixed boundaries, allowing viewers to interpret and recreate meaning in their own way.
Lai Dieu Ha introduces 3/4 of the exhibition works, the fourth work is currently on display at the Vietnam Women's Museum
The work "Details Overflowing with Darkness"
The work "Presence Here/There"
The collaboration between Rosemarie Trockel and Lai Dieu Ha in this exhibition is not only a meeting of two outstanding talents but also a fusion of two cultures, two different ways of looking at art. If Trockel represents a global voice, where art becomes a means to reflect on major social issues, then Lai Dieu Ha brings a personal perspective, exploiting the depth of emotions and indigenous stories. The dialogue between the two artists through their works promises to create unique emotions and reflections for the audience.
This is not only an art event but also an important space for cultural dialogue. The works on display here not only reflect the two artists’ endless creativity but also invite the audience to join the journey of discovering art and the profound social values it brings. This is a vivid testament to the power of art in connecting people, overcoming all language and cultural barriers, and contributing to the creation of an open and creative global community.
The exhibition not only stops at the two main exhibition venues, The Outpost Art Center and the Vietnamese Women's Museum, but also includes satellite events such as talks and workshops, providing opportunities for the audience to learn more about the creative journey of the two artists. This is an opportunity for art lovers to approach new perspectives and expand their understanding of international contemporary art.
The event will run from December 7, 2024 to January 3, 2025, and will be open daily to the public. This is an opportunity for the public to discover more than 60 unique works and join the inspiring artistic journey of the two artists.
Some other pictures at the exhibition:
The event attracted a large number of art lovers.
The collaboration between Rosemarie Trockel and Lai Dieu Ha in this exhibition is not only a meeting of two outstanding talents but also an intersection of two cultures and two different perspectives on art.
