Screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”
Wed 02 Oct 2013,8 pm
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective
44, lane 31 Xuan Dieu Str, Hanoi
Come to the next session of Cinexin Hanoi this week with the screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975, 100 minutes) directed by Jjim Sharman.
Synopsis: This low-budget freak show/cult classic/cultural institution concerns the misadventures of Brad Majors (Barry Bostwick) and Janet Weiss (Susan Sarandon) inside a strange mansion that they come across on a rainy night. After the wholesome pair profess their love through an opening song, their car breaks down in the woods, and they seek refuge in a towering castle nearby. Greeting them at the door is a ghoulish butler named Riff Raff (Richard O’Brien), who introduces them to a bacchanalian collection of party goers dressed in outfits from some sort of interplanetary thrift shop. The host of this gathering is a transvestite clad in lingerie, Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), a mad scientist who claims to be from another planet. With assistants Columbia (Nell Campbell) and Magenta (Patricia Quinn) looking on, Frank unveils his latest creation — a figure wrapped in gauze and submerged in a tank full of liquid. With the addition of colored dyes and some assistance from the weather, Frank brings to life a blonde young beefcake wearing nothing but skimpy shorts, who launches into song in his first minute of life. Just when Brad and Janet think things couldn’t get any stranger, a biker (Meat Loaf) bursts onto the scene to reclaim Columbia, his ex-girlfriend. When Frank kills the biker, it’s clear that Brad and Janet will be guests for the night, and that they may be next on Frank’s list — whether for murder or carnal delights is uncertain. And just what is that mystery meat they’re eating for dinner, anyway? In addition to playing Riff Raff, O’Brien wrote the catchy songs, with John Barry and Richard Hartley composing the score.
Language: English with English subtitles.
Free entrance.
Exhibition “Viet – Thai Art Exchange”
Opening: Tue 01 Oct, 6 pm
Exhibition: 01 – 07 Oct 2013
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum
66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St. Hanoi
You are invited to the art exhibition “Viet – Thai Art Exchange”.
It is within the framework of exchange program between group artists from Vietnam and Thailand in 2013. This program will include workshops of art, seminars and exhibitions to introduce artists and their works in both countries.
Attendants from Vietnam include: Trinh Tuan, Vo Ta Hung, Nguyen Quang Huy, Nguyen Minh Phuoc, Le Thong , Bang Sy Truc, Nguyen Tran Cuong, Nguyen Ngoc Phuong, Vu Duc Trung, Nguyen Trung Dung, Vu Pham Truong Minh, Phan Cam Thuong, Dinh Van Hien and Vu Duc Hieu.
Tác phẩm
Artwork “Young seed 2″ by artist Worawut Thakaeo
Attendants from Thailand include: Somchai Wacharasombat, Wattanachot Tungateja, Nukoon Panyadee, Nitti Wattuya, Pakde Limpong, Jirawat Phirasant, Banlu Wiriyapornprapas, Pallop Wangborn, Saravut Vongnate, Thong Udompol, Somporn Teamprasit, Maitree Homthong and Worawut Thakaeo.
For more information, please contact: Trinh Tuan, email: tuanhoatrinh@gmail.com.
Screening of “Kerity, La Maison des Contes”
Fri 04 Oct 2013, 8 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội
You are invited to the film screening “Eleonore’s Secret” (France, 2009, 80 mins) directed by Dominique Monféry. This is “A new coup for the French animation”. (Nouvel Obs)
For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post.
Language: French with Vietnamese subtitle.
Tickets:
Ticket price: 40 000 VND
Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 20 000 VND
Tickets are available at L’Espace.
Experimental Film Screening: The Freemartin Calf + As True As Troilus
Wed 02 Oct 2013, 8.30 pm
ATK
73a Mai Hac De, Hanoi
The Onion Cellar is delighted to present the Vietnam (and Asia? hopefully) premiere of 2 experimental films written and directed by Franco-Australian filmmaker JAYNE AMARA ROSS (who also graced the works with her beautiful spoken-word poetry), shot on Super 8 and 16mm, and featuring haunting musical contributions courtesy of members of the Paris-based post-rock (or post-everything, to be precise) collective FAREWELL POETRY and friends.
THE FREEMARTIN CALF (2010)
A film by Jayne Amara Ross
Original music by Frédéric D. Oberland with Gaspar Claus
Poetry and narration by Jayne Amara Ross
SYNOPSIS
freemartin (n.): A sexually imperfect, usually sterile female calf born as a twin with a male calf due to the influence of male hormones during the development in utero. Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary, 2007.
The Freemartin Calf relates a day in the life of two women: a young girl and her mother, as they brave two very separate realities laced with a very similar pain, fueled by a dogged desire to both reject and conform to the societal roles imposed upon them. The film is a deliberation on the subject of the creative process: the importance of a belief in the invisible creative mechanism (represented by the female body), the angst associated with the inability to create and the part of us that we leave behind in the final product.
‘The realistic narrative of ‘The Freemartin Calf’ never ceases to enrichen its symbolic basis with dreamlike imagery. Here we are closer to a naturalism that is transcended, magnified. From the ambitious mis-en-scène to the intricate structure of the film and the power of the facture, ‘The Freemartin Calf’ is a film of great maturity – and of extraordinary beauty.’
Gabriela Trujillo (Culturopoing, June 2011)
AS TRUE AS TROILUS (2009)
A film by Jayne Amara Ross
Original music by FareWell Poetry
SYNOPSIS
The film takes its title and mythology from Chaucer’s important 14th century poem ‘Troilus and Criseyde’, a retelling of a ‘faux’ Greek myth with Medieval origins, in which the main protagonist Troilus falls in love with Trojan Cressida who finally deceives and leaves him for the Greek soldier Diomedes. “In this work, Troilus embodies denial, he does not want to see his lover for what she really is. Despite the fact that she is ‘as false as Cressida’, he remains resolutely faithful in his love, desiring to be the superlative lover” (Nicole Brenez). The narrator of ‘As True As Troilus’ (just as Chaucer’s narrator) uses this myth to explore his own romantic mythology, using the characters and their situation to recount his own plight, illustrating the destruction of his own failed relationship with tableaux from the Trojan tale.
Free entry.
Screening of “Les Femmes du 6ème Étage”
Fri 11 Oct 2013, 8 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội
You are invited to the film screening “The Women on the 6th Floor” (France, 2011, 106 mins) directed by Philippe Le Guay. “What a delicate, distinguished and jolly comedy!” (Le Journal du Dimanche)
For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post.
Language: French with Vietnamese subtitle.
Tickets:
Ticket price: 40 000 VND
Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 20 000 VND
Tickets are available at L’Espace.
Music Festival of France and Vietnam “OHLÀLÀ”
Sat 12 Oct 2013, 7 pm
Hang Day Stadium
The top music event of France Year in Vietnam is coming to Hanoi! A special concert with a lot of duet and solo performances by famous duos and singers namely Thanh Lam, Le Cat Trong Ly, La Grande Sophie, Leila Bounous, Quang Minh, Viet Vo Da House and electronic rock band Poni Hoax.
The music festival will present a mixture of different rhythms from electronic, pop, rock to folk music in 4 hours, which will help you discover the musical talents from Vietnam and France.
The program honors great female singers and they will perform in 4 languages (Vietnamese, French, Arabic and English). This is an opportunity for artists from two countries to meet on one same stage. They will appear together in an exciting, jolly and open festival.
The festival will present two very famous names La Grande Sophie and Thanh Lam. Sophie is known as a talented and charming singer with exquisite pop-rock style. She has won the best album award for her work “La Place du fantome” in Victoires de la Musique 2013 (equivalent to Grammy of the US). Whereas Thanh Lam, one of the best-known Vietnamese divas with her passionate vocal, will perform various genres of music from pop, rock to jazz, soul.
In addition, the audience will have the chance to enjoy the performance of other famous singers/groups such as:
Le Cat Trong Ly: Singer, songwriter, a poetic soul who can touch the audience’s heart. She will perform in a completely new style.
The duo Quang and Minh from Vietnam with Hamon and Martin from France – an interesting combination of four virtuoso folk musicians with a delicate contemporary folk style.
Viet Vo Da House (HCMC) with a blended style combining electro music, electric guitar with Vietnamese traditional instruments.
Leila Bounous. A new contributor to French music scene, this Algerian French female singer will bring to the audience some special electro – rock performances with her strong oriental vocals.
And finally, the music festival will end with the performance of Poni Hoax, a vibrant rock band. Their music somehow resembles David Bowie’s fascinating tunes.
All these great performances will undoubtedly bring unforgettable memory to the Vietnamese audience.
Tickets
Seating ticket price : 50 000 VND
Standing ticket price : 30 000 VND
Tickets are available at:
• L’espace, 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi
• Hang Day stadium, no.7 Trinh Hoai Đuc, Hanoi
Concert “Sieste Électronique”
HCMC: Sat 12 Oct 2013, 4 pm – 6:30 pm
Tao Dan Park
—
Hanoi: Sat 19 Oct 2013, 3 pm – 6 pm
Independence Park
Let’s wander around the park, lean against a chair or lie down on grass, closes your eyes and discover sounds and world music.
“Sieste Électronique” (Electronic Naps) is a special program, developed in 2011 in Quai Branly Museum to enhance the value of Sound Heritage which is extremely rich.The concert wish to convey this value to a diverse audience in the hope that they can understand and appreciate the historical and cultural benefit of the sound treasure.
This is an event for experimental music which is adventurous and daring. However, experimental music is not necessarily electronic and contemporary music. Let’s forget about busy lives, pause for a second and open up your heart to enjoy the magical music. The mixture of electronic music, experimental music as well as Vietnam traditional music will enable the audience to relax and experience.
Attending artists:
French guest artists:
• Vincent Moon
Well-known with La Blogothèque netizens, Vincent Moon is famous for “take-away” concert (actually it is a video podcast), this idea has been implemented successfully by other people.
• Laurent Jeanneau
For more than 10 years, Laurent Jeanneau has continuously discovered the music of ethnic minority groups and recorded on fields to mix with electronic and acoustic elements.
• Jean Nipon
Jean Nipon, musician who creates thousands of sounds (8-bit with Teamtendo, breakcore with DJ Ai, Techno with Karat, more complex sound with Institubes, eclectic with Régine,…).
Vietnamese guest artists
• Vu Nhat Tan
Vu Nhat Tan is Vietnam’s top experimental sound artist electronic musician, one of the best students of The Vietnam National Academy of Music. He has won many awards in Vietnam, Europe and Australia. Tan has performed with various sound artists and has played in Germany, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Bangkok and Singapore.
• Nguyen Hong Giang
The young musician from HCMC, since 2009, has explored the buzzing sound of electronic music under the pseudonym of Writher. During that time, he also participates in a post-rock project called Time Keeper. He has published album every 6 months and each of his compositions is posing new challenges for aesthetic today.
Free entrance.
Tao Dan Park
Truong Dinh, Ben Thanh, District 1, HCMC
Independence Park
Tran Nhan Tong, Le Duan, Hanoi
CAMA Festival 7
Sat 12 Oct 2013, 1 – 11 pm
American Club
19–21 Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
Indochina’s longest running international music festival will return to Hanoi for the seventh time with a line-up of leading indie, rock, reggae and electronic acts ready to hit the capital Saturday 12 October.
The 2013 CAMA Festival promises to be the biggest and best yet, bringing international acts to join a host of leading local talent for a full-on day of musical mayhem in Hanoi. This year’s spectacular line-up of artists from around the globe includes Brisbane’s new generation of indie pop from The Cairos (Australia), electronic rock from Zoo (India), reggae duo Raggabund (Germany), UK-influenced indie darlings Turtle Giant (Brazil) and psychedelic sixties pop purveyors The Pinholes (Singapore). They’ll be ably supported by the best in local talent such as Hanoi-based nu-metal rockers 18+, legendary punk party starters The Offensive and Skank the Tank, Hanoi’s number one reggae soundsystem. Two of Hanoi’s favourite DJs: DJ Cache and GiGiMix will also be keeping the party going throughout the day.
CAMA Festival is an immersive day of fun for families and people of all ages, with up to 3,000 people attending each year. Besides non-stop live music on the main stage, CAMA are delighted to have teamed up with the Hanoi Flea Market to host a creative arts market at the festival. Around 30 stalls will show off the cream of Hanoi’s creative youth culture. In addition, there will be a children’s play area as well as food and beverages provided by a range of Hanoi’s leading restaurants and cafes offering the best of Vietnamese and international cuisine.
Hanoi’s first independent music promoters, CAMA Vietnam have brought over 100 international acts from more than 15 countries to Vietnam since 2005, including leading rock, hip hop and electronic performers from around the region and across the globe. Dedicated to the promotion of independent local, regional and international musical talent in Vietnam, CAMA host regular shows throughout the year, operate a bar cum performance space in the capital known as CAMA ATK and organise the annual CAMA Festival. 2013 marks the group’s 7th annual all-day music festival in Hanoi, an event which has become Indochina’s biggest independent annual music festival.
With the support of corporate brands such as Jagermeister, Tan Khoa, Red Rock Lager and Coca Cola, as well as cultural institutions Goethe-Institut, Made In Berlin and the Australian Embassy Vietnam, CAMA Festival 7 will kick off from 1pm on Saturday 12 October at 19-21 Hai Ba Trung Street, Hanoi.
Tickets
A limited number of advance tickets go on sale for VND 300,000 from Tuesday 1 October at CAMA ATK and other selected outlets across the city. A complete list is available on the CAMA Festival website. Tickets on the door will be priced at VND 350,000 with a discount price of VND100,000 available for those holding a valid Vietnamese student ID card. Student tickets are only available on the door.
Band Line-up for CAMA Festival 7
Sat 12 Oct 2013, 1 – 11 pm
American Club
19 Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi
CAMA Festival is back with a bang! Indochina’s biggest and longest running international music festival is returning to a green space in the center of Hanoi for the seventh time this October and the line-up is bigger than ever.
2013’s event will see 12 acts on the main stage with acts from the Australia, India, Germany, Singapore and Brazil playing alongside some of Vietnam’s best artists. The music policy at CAMA is always eclectic and this year will be no different with indie, reggae, rock, folk, punk, metal and electro already confirmed. As always, the magic of the festival is discovering surprising new acts and having one hell of a good time. Indeed, the event’s crowd is almost as much fun to watch as the performances on stage: dancing, fancy dress and stage diving are all par for the course.
This year’s line-up may just be the most packed ever with a staggering 12 acts taking so the stage. As eclectic as ever CAMA have managed to juggle indie, electro, rock, metal, punk, folk and reggae into a cohesive bill. Check out who’ll be your new favourite bands after this year’s show.
Brisbane has long been Australia’s most fertile breeding ground for bands, a tradition which The Cairos look intent on continuing. The youthful four-piece bristle with energy and write infectious pop inspired by an upbringing of melodic sixties pop. Add a teenage youth of shoegaze to the mix and you start to see the roots of the group’s upbeat indie which is soundtracking Brisbane’s never-ending summers. Learn some chorus’s by checking out Colours Like Features, their first EP since signing to Island Records, then come sing along with them in Hanoi.
“It’s disgusting how young they are to be sounding this good.” – Rave Magazine
Zoo (India)
India isn’t renowned for its modern music, but Zoo are going someway to changing that. The polished quintet marry electro, techno, and rock into a series of brooding tracks that build into full-on cut-loose freakouts of electronic rock. Keeping everyone’s attention is charismatic female vocalist Tanya Sen.
Turtle Giant (Brazil)
Three-piece indie collective Turtle Giant aren’t nearly as big as they should be. Formed in Macau and featuring two Brazilian natives, the trio blend dreamy vocal harmonies with jangly guitar like a classic British indie band. Look out for single We Were Kids, it’s infectiously euphoric chorus would have the likes of Arctic Monkeys nodding in approval.
Raggabund (Germany)
This reggae duo do much to change perceptions of German culture, by moving away from the country’s trademark electronic sounds into something altogether different. Raggabund have been expressing their love for Jamaican music and socially conscious lyrics since 2000 in a smooth mix of reggae and urban dancehall. At CAMA Festival 7, the group will be providing bassy, ragga grooves to keep dutchies moving and crowds skanking.
The Pinholes (Singapore)
Who would’ve thought Singapore would produce a band making psychedelic sixties pop in 2013? The Pinholes are doing just that. Steeped in the sounds of Syd Barret era Pink Floyd, the group have just released an EP of repetitive guitar riffs that demand floppy-necked dancing and geometric light shows in celebration of youth, sunshine and rock and roll. Dance to the Youth of Gold EP in your bedroom, then break out your moves on the grass and in the afternoon sun of CAMA Festival 7.
Local Talent
As ever, CAMA Festival will showcase some of the best musical talent Hanoi has to offer.
18+
18+band2
In Vietnam rock and metal are mas¬sive and the cream of the crop right now are 18+. These five Hanoi kids blew everyone away earlier this year at ASEAN Fes¬ti¬val before mak¬ing it all the way to the finals of Tiger Translate’s Battle of the Bands. In Hanoi venues, 18+ have had young crowds go wild as their heavy sound and brutal vocals have struck the right chord with Vietnam’s youth. 18+ now find them-selves one of Hanoi’s biggest bands, but thank¬fully, these home-grown Nu-Metal heroes have the sound to fill expectations. Ready your metal horns and prac¬tice your head-bang for 18+’s performance at CAMA Festival 7.
The Offensive
Since 2000, the Offensive have been mixing sweat, blood and alcohol to bash out party punk rock for Hanoi crowds. Through various incarnations the offensive never fail to get the party rocking, as they showed when supporting Chinese post-punk legends PK14 in Saigon back in 2009. Think Black Flack, The Stooges and The Clash and you get the idea: punked up sounds to jump around to.
Skank the Tank Reggae Soundsystem
Fiyaah! From the early 60’s to the future dub sounds of tomorrow, Skank the Tank provide the finest reggae selections in Vietnam’s capital. Bringing heavy tunes, positive vibes and the best of sound system culture from Roots and Digital to Dancehall and Dub, the Skank the Tank crew have done more than anyone else to promote reggae music in Hanoi. Earlier this year they opened up for Shabazz Palaces and have since added some live instrumentation to the line-up. Put on your skanking shoes and come inna di dance with a peaceful mind!
Phuong Dang
Clever songwriting, a fraught voice and emotive piano made Phuong a favourite on the Hanoi music scene and saw her take to the main stage for CAMA Festival 5. The mercurial singer songwriter has taken the last year or so out to give birth to her first child, but is now ready to take to the stage again. Vietnam’s capital is lucky to have her back.
The Strangers
Four strangers from across the globe that sound like best friends having one hell of a good time. The Strangers play alternative rock with a host of ingredients like blues, funk, country and reggae. The band’s original tracks and well-chosen genre-bending covers have seen them blow the roof off Hanoi’s best music venues. Where do you go once you’ve had everybody in Hanoi Rock City, Madake, RockStore and Barbetta dancing like mad to your take on Daft Punk’s Get Lucky? That’s right, you go to CAMA Festival.
Official CAMA Festival 7 DJs
Every festival needs a festival DJ, and CAMA Festival 7 has two!
DJ Cache (Australia)
Australian born DJ CACHE quickly established himself at the heart of Hanoi’s burgeoning music scene back in 2010 by taking his eclectic sets of electronic goodness to every music loving venue in the capital. Cache has shared the bill with some of the biggest international names to play in Vietnam, never failing to impress with choice cuts of downtempo beats, classic hip hop, electro funk, deep house, drum bass and much more. In 2011 and 2012, Cache rocked Hanoi’s excellent Soundstuff Festival, proving that he has more than earned the right to take center stage at CAMA Festival.
DJ GiGiMiX NoMaD (France)
DJ GiMiX NoMaD is quite rightly considered one of the funnest DJ’s on the Hanoi circuit. Inspired by burlesque parties and electro swing, GiGiMiX has filled dancefloors all over Vietnam’s capital, earning himself a residency at The Sofitel Metropole. When supporting Soil “Pimp” Sessions’ Hanoi show, GiGi kept 2,000 people dancing to electro swing, funky beats, disco house, nu-soul and latin jazz breaks long after the band had left the stage. Soil “Pimp” Sessions aren’t an easy act to follow, but then, neither is GiGiMiX.
HCMC – Performance of Ballet Cinderella
12 and 13 Oct 2013, 8 pm
HCMC Opera House
No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC
You are invited to the performance of ballet Cinderella. The “Cinderella” ballet is choreographed based on the fairy tale about the poor girl lives with her stepmother and stepmother’s daughter. She is ill-treated, forgotten in the kitchen. She was not allowed to be in the party of the prince.
The ”Cinderella” ballet performed by Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera is choreographed by famous Norwegian choreographer Johanne Jakhelln Constant, who was successful with “The Nutcracker” ballet in 2011 and 2012.
A royal palace, a glittering gown, dancing with a handsome Prince in a candlelit ballroom… such fanciful dreams were only in Cinderella’s imagination. But thanks to her Fairy Godmother, her life of hardship is magically transformed. Making a dazzling entrance to the royal ball, she captures the attention of all and the heart of the Prince. Yet this beautiful dream must end at midnight, and in her haste to depart, she leaves one jewelled slipper behind…
Ballet Cinderella 2
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Choreography: Johanne Jakhelln Constant
Assistant choreography: Nguyễn Phúc Hùng, Phan Thị Hồng Châu
Scenography Costume design: Johanne Jakhelln Constant
Artists: Trần Hoàng Yến, Đàm Đức Nhuận, Nguyễn Phúc Hùng, Nguyễn Lương Hòa, NSƯT. Phan Thị Hồng Châu, Nguyễn Thu Trang, Nguyễn Thị Thu Thuỷ, Trần Thị Hồng Vân, Đinh Thị Diễm Trang, Hoàng Ngọc Thuỳ Trinh, Đào Văn Thiện, Hồ Phi Điệp, Thạch Hiểu Lăng and HBSO Ballet.
Tickets
Ticket price: 650.000 – 550.000 – 400.000 – 150.000 VND (for students only). Discount 10% when buying before 30 Sep.
All tickets are available at:
Ticket Counter, HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC.
Email: info@hbso.org.vn.
Booking and delivery: 08 3823 7419; Ms.Hương: 0989874517; Ms. Ngọc: 0909493938
Music Night with SAY OMS
Sat 05 Oct 2013, 8 pm
Hanoi Social Club
6 Hoi Vu Str, Hanoi
What’s that? Is that the unmistakeable sound of a new band slamming into Hanoi? Ooooh yeah.
Ohh, you’re in for a treat Hanoians. Settle into your chairs and let me tell you about the newest, and dare I say it – the BEST band playing contemporary (non pop) music in Hanoi – they are called…
SAY OMS
They’re a funky melody and a scattered love story; lively, soulful, introspective and full of jive. A piano and a girl, a groove, and a drum set. Grab a cushion and sit near the front. Pull up your knees and share the night. Say Oms are ecstatic to be playing Hanoi Social Club and they’ll be happy to see you there too.
Genre defying, but with lashings of soul. We’ll light some candles, put out some cushions and serve you cake and wine. All you need to do is turn up and have your senses entertained.
You’re going to be hearing a lot from these guys – say you saw them at The Hanoi Social Club before they become famous.
Tickets: 100,000 VND.
Meals on Reels – A Season of Food Movies
01 and 29 Oct 2013, 6.30 pm
Hanoi Cooking Centre
44 Chau Long Street
Now the balmy and dry autumn nights are upon us, welcome to an open air cinema every first and last Tuesday of the month. October kicks off with two films about sibling rivalry in the kitchen.
On October 1, we will show Big Night (USA, 1996). Two brothers, volatile chef Primo and smooth talking restaurant manager Secondo, try to save their failing Italian restaurant by putting on a special dinner concert. Featuring sharp dialogue and a cracker soundtrack, this movie is a real treat.
Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (Taiwan, 1994) by Oscar-winning director Ang Lee (Life of Pi) on October 29 charts the love lives of three very different sisters and revolves around huge Sunday night dinners prepared by their father, a widowed senior chef. A classic of the genre with great characters and sumptuous food photography (don’t miss the opening scene!).
Entry is free.
HCMC – Exhibition “Red Thread”
Opening: Thu 03 Oct, 6 – 9 pm
Exhibition: 03 – 23 Oct 2013
Craig Thomas Gallery
27i Tran Nhat Duat, Tan Dinh ward, Q.1, HCMC
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 11 am to 6pm; Sundays 1 to 5 pm; and by appointment
You are invited to “Red Thread”, a solo exhibition of new ink and water color paintings on do paper by Saigon-based artist Bui Tien Tuan.
After nearly a decade of focusing on silk as the medium for his poetic, dream-like portraits of women, Tuan has taken an unexpected turn with his latest Red Thread series, appropriating the traditional medium of do paper with ink and watercolors. The artist insists, however, that the shift is not intended to be permanent. Rather it is a return to the “origins” of his career as a young artist during which time he was renowned for his do paper works.
Floating in empty spaces dominated by the rough texture of the do paper, the women in Bui Tien Tuan’s Red Thread collection recline, crouch, and cavort in mid-air or over an invisible bed. In varying states of undress, there is inevitably a red thread in their delicate hands which spins around their semi-extended bare legs or their beautifully formed torsos. The facial features of Tuan’s women are sometimes visible and sometimes hidden by their hair or an averted gaze, allowing us to fantasize about their identity. For Tuan, the ever-present red thread is a line that links the viewer to his labyrinthine world of poetic sensuality.
Silk and do paper are fundamentally different materials and the use of both evidences Tuan’s craft mastery and range as an artist. Silk has a finer and softer look which imparts an untouchable quality to the skin of the women in Tuan’s earlier portraits. In contrast, do paper is full of textures and has a “relief” quality to it. On close inspection, the uneven surfaces of the Red Thread paintings hint at the real, stronger quality of actual skin with pores, fine hairs, and other small imperfections.
As in Tuan’s earlier work, the women in the Red Thread collection are “urban women.” These women, however, are less distant and unreachable. They are presented on a more personal and intimate level, allowing the viewer a more palpable experience of the artist’s world.
While his silk portraits were a window into the artist’s dream world, the Red Thread paintings transport the viewer directly into this world where sensuality can be touched through the textures of the do paper.