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The exhibition, titled "Weaving Perspectives," is being held at two main locations: The Outpost Art Center (2nd Floor, Building B1, Roman Plaza, To Huu Street, Dai Mo Ward, Nam Tu Liem District) and the Vietnam Women's Museum (36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi). This is not only an opportunity for the Vietnamese public to access international contemporary art, but also a chance for two talented artists to share inspiring creative stories through their works. This exhibition is part of a series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary 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 diverse materials and ideas to create works that deeply reflect on society. Born in 1952 in Schwerte, Germany, she began her career in the 1980s, a time when contemporary art was still dominated by men. Trockel quickly established herself through her bold, innovative approach and her relentless challenge to gender stereotypes and the role of women in art.
The exhibition was initiated by the German Institute for Foreign Relations and the Goethe-Institut Hanoi.
This exhibition showcases over 60 of her representative works, including textiles, paintings, photographs, videos, and installations, reflecting an artistic journey spanning more than four decades. Everyday materials such as wool, eggs, hair, and even an electric stovetop are creatively used to tell meaningful stories. Notably, this marks the first time Trockel's work has been exhibited in Southeast Asia, signifying the expansion of the traveling exhibition series organized by the German Institute for Foreign Relations (ifa), which has already toured 42 major cities worldwide.
Everyday materials like wool, eggs, hair, and even the heating element of an electric stove were used by her.
Rosemarie Trockel's background played a crucial role in shaping her artistic thinking. As the first German female artist to represent the 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.
This magazine became an important platform, helping to break the dominance of male artists during that period. However, Trockel did not want her art to be confined within a gender-based lens. She once shared that art should be approached through feeling and imagination, not through rigid explanations. This exhibition is an opportunity for Vietnamese audiences to discover and feel the profound messages hidden within each of her works.
Over 60 conceptual works by Rosemarie Trockel, ranging from paintings, photographs, and videos to installations, are featured at the exhibition.
Lai Dieu Ha: A pioneering voice in Vietnamese performing arts.
Lai Dieu Ha (right), a pioneering performance artist of Vietnam.
Also appearing in the exhibition is Lai Dieu Ha, a pioneering performance artist from Vietnam, who will present works representing her nearly two-decade 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 using the body as an artistic tool. Her way of combining intensity and poetry 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 format, opening a new direction for performance art in her country.
This exhibition will showcase four representative works by Lai Dieu Ha, representing four important creative phases in her career. These works extend beyond performance art to other forms such as painting, soft sculpture, and archival art. In recent years, Lai Dieu Ha has gradually withdrawn from the role of a live performance artist, shifting to a new approach she shared at the exhibition: "letting the artwork perform itself." This is her way of liberating art from fixed boundaries, allowing viewers to interpret and recreate its meaning in their own way.
Lai Dieu Ha introduced three-quarters of the exhibited works; the fourth work is currently on display at the Vietnam Women's Museum.
The work "Details Overflowing into the Darkness"
The work "Present 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 an intersection of two cultures and two different perspectives on art. If Trockel represents a global voice, where art becomes a means to reflect the great issues of society, Lai Dieu Ha offers a personal perspective, exploring the depth of emotions and local stories. The dialogue between the two artists through their works promises to create unique emotions and reflections for the audience.
This is not merely an art event, but also a crucial space for cultural dialogue. The works on display not only reflect the continuous creativity of the two artists but also invite the audience to participate in a 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 language and cultural barriers, and contributing to the creation of an open and creative global community.
The exhibition extends beyond the two main venues, The Outpost Art Center and the Vietnam Women's Museum, to include satellite events such as panel discussions and workshops, offering audiences the opportunity to learn more about the creative journeys of the two artists. This is a chance for art lovers to access fresh perspectives and broaden their understanding of contemporary international art.
The event runs from December 7, 2024 to January 3, 2025, and is open daily to welcome visitors. This is an opportunity for the public to discover over 60 unique works and participate in the inspiring artistic journey of the two artists.
Here are some other images from 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.
