October: Which exhibition is right for you?

[Painting] Exhibition "Nature in the Middle"

• Time: from September 18th to October 2nd
• Location: Hanoi Studio Gallery (13 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District)
• Free admission

To a greater or lesser extent, in one way or another, we are all learning to understand and connect more closely with nature; and the "Nature in Between" exhibition will be a completely unique way for you to explore and appreciate nature from different dimensions of space and time.

"Nature in the Middle" is a collection of works by five artists from the Lưu Động group: Trịnh Liên, Đặng Hữu, Duy Tùng, Duy Hoà, and Đặng Hiệp. Ten years ago, they – second and third-year art students at the School of Architecture – organized weekend painting trips driven by a passion for honing their outdoor painting skills, outside of schoolwork. Immersing themselves in the vastness of nature was undoubtedly a challenge for the senses of these aspiring artists, but it gradually instilled in them the ability to capture light, color, and even the scent of plants, soil, and gardens; as well as awakening the best qualities and skills of each individual.

"Days spent wandering together on small streets, hills, riverbanks, and sun-drenched fields... Each painting holds a whole life, a personality, suffering, doubt, moments of passion and happiness."

[Sculpture] Exhibition "Hanoi - Saigon 2020"

• Time: from September 18th to October 18th
• Location: Vincom Contemporary Art Center (B1-R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District)
• Free admission

This is the 6th exhibition by the Hanoi-Saigon Sculpture Artists Group. Not only is it the group's largest exhibition in the past decade, but the highlight of Hanoi-Saigon Sculpture 2020 lies in the interwoven and present spirit of contemporary art.

The materials used by the group are diverse, including metal, wood, stone, ceramics, composites, and fiberglass. Each work reflects the artist's contemplation of various aspects of life – from universal issues like freedom, movement, and nature, to specific stories of contemporary people, childhood memories, loneliness, and aspirations. Among them, the works of young artists from the 80s generation offer new perspectives and a fresh spirit for sculpture and art lovers.

You may not be an expert in sculpture, but through each piece, you can see the thoughts and experiences of time hidden within.theyThey will still know how to tell you stories about the transformation of contemporary Vietnam.

[Music] Exhibition "Where It Is - It Is Here"

• Time: from September 18th to October 18th
• Location: Vincom Contemporary Art Center (B1-R3, Vincom Mega Mall Royal City, 72A Nguyen Trai Street, Thanh Xuan District)
• Free admission

"Perhaps it is in nature, rich and abundant, that a fundamental idea about Southeast Asian indigenous music exists. The role of humanity before this tropical treasure is not to resist, but to coexist..."

The observations of musician and musicologist-ethnographer José Maceda about the connection between nature and music also served as the motivation for the Đàn Đó group and Nguyễn Đức Phương, as they integrated their artistic practice with indigenous cultural elements.

Dan Do, a group of four members, together explored, researched, and developed musical instruments primarily made from bamboo – as well as how to play and combine these instruments with movement and performance elements. Some of the instruments they experimented with during their eight years of working together include:that flockMade from bamboo stalks, it produces a bright, clear sound and resembles a fishing net in shape.jar drum: A ceramic jar, commonly used to collect water, also serves as a percussion instrument, producing a deep, resonant sound...

Nguyen Duc Phuong, the fifth member of the group, is the one who documents the group's activities through paintings and sketches. The pigments are made from clay; techniques regarding lines, shades, and surfaces are constantly explored and innovated... - Nguyen Duc Phuong's works express the symbiotic relationship between music and nature - true to the spirit of Dan Do. Movement and stillness, people, trees, and earth coexist in an unspecified space-time. Interwoven visual patterns evoke cultures and places that are not distinct, from the past and present, harmoniously paired like a graceful melody.

The exhibition will look back at the artistic journey of the members from 2012 to the present through visual works by Nguyen Duc Phuong about the group, musical performances by Dan Do, installations and displays of musical instruments, a documentary film, and various other notes.

[Literature] exhibits documents about To Huu

• Dates: Opening on October 9th and 10th, open every Saturday.
• Location: To Huu Memorial House, House D9, Thang Long International Village

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of poet Tố Hữu, his family opened the Tố Hữu Museum, aiming to provide the public and those who admire his work with a deeper insight into the poet and revolutionary fighter.

The To Huu Museum consists of two parts: part 1 displays the life and career of To Huu through 7 volumes of poetry associated with the revolutionary historical periods of the country; part 2 is a space recreating a part of the house at 76 Phan Dinh Phung, where he and his family lived for more than 40 years until his passing.

In collaboration with the content team of Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Huy (former Director of the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology) and the exhibition design by Graphic Designer Dam Ca, combined with various audiovisual media, viewers will have access to a multi-dimensional and vivid collection of international, domestic, and personal materials about the poet spanning nearly a century.

[Graffiti] displays the work of the legendary Cyril Kongo

• Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM daily
• Location: Cyril Kongo Vietnam Gallery (9 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District)
• Free admission

Cyril Kongo is no longer an unfamiliar name to street art enthusiasts around the world, thanks to his immense contributions that have transformed the face of graffiti, a nascent art form originating from the streets of New York. Cyril Kongo's real name is Cyril Phan, with a Vietnamese father and a French mother. He spent six years of his childhood in Saigon and, after 1975, lived with his mother in Congo for two years before returning to France.

After three decades of dedication, Cyril Kongo's name is now synonymous with technical excellence, richness of expression, and profound humanism. He is sought after by many luxury brands and leading manufacturers in various fields, such as Hermès, Chanel, Richard Mille, La Cornue, Pinel & Pinel, and many others.

In September 2020, Cyril Kongo decided to open his first solo gallery in Hanoi, where he could tell his hometown audience the story of a boy growing up in Saigon who always strived to reach out to the world.

Located on Trang Tien Street, Cyril Kongo Hanoi Gallery will showcase representative artworks from the career of the legendary French-Vietnamese graffiti artist. Not only does it offer Vietnamese audiences the opportunity to appreciate unique works by this international graffiti icon, but the appearance of Cyril Kongo Hanoi Gallery is also like a bright, youthful, and modern note amidst the historically tranquil Trang Tien Street.

Hopefully, with Travellive's suggestions, you will find a "world" just for yourself. Finally, please forget all the information above, forget the tempting smartphone in your hand, because a truly "successful" and complete sightseeing experience is only possible when your mind is in a state of freedom. Freedom to observe and feel, freedom to forget the rigid concepts and limitations of reason.

Lan Oanh