Artists: Do Thanh Lang, Hoang Ngoc Tu, Hoang Nam Viet, Ngo Dinh Bao Chau, Nguyen Duc Dat, Nguyen Kim To Lan, Nguyen Viet Long, Nguyen Uyen Minh,
Sunny, Truong Cong Tung, Bao Vuong
One of the most dynamic groups currently operating in the art and culture scene of Vietnam, Sao La – started as the non-profit educational initiative of Galerie Quynh – represents something of a melting pot of underground creative currents. Cù Rú, their shared studio space (located on the top floor of an old quaint Vietnamese apartment building and doubling as a bar in the evening), is the site of regular multi-disciplinary happenings across scenes and tribes. Following a string of film screenings, concerts and parties at Cù Rú, as well as curated exhibitions and two art walks at other alternative HCMC venues, NGUCHONOBAY marks an unprecedented Sao La take-over of Galerie Quynh.
Much as it is whimsical and borderline English-untranslatable, the exhibition title succinctly captures the Sao La spirit and summarizes what is in store. A feverish mix of energy, spontaneity and no small doses of humour permeate a selection of paintings, sculptures, installations and sound works from eleven HCMC-based artists. Diverse as they are in realization and subject matter, the works share in their attempts at interacting with and transforming the gallery’s polished setting into a liminal zone existing between the ordinary and the infra-ordinary, adorned with pools of water, plants, mosquito nets, cicadas, neon lights, amongst other objects of the everyday. Contours get blurry; (head) spaces stretched, activated; possibilities emerge.
Throughout its duration NGUCHONOBAY will host a number of side events happening at Galerie Quynh every weekend featuring contributions from various local cultural players (full details and schedule to be announced).
Toying with the durational aspect of sounds and visions, The Onion Cellar hosts the HCMC premiere of Jonas Mekas’ 5-hour visual poem “As I Was Moving ahead occasionally I Saw Brief Glimpses of Beauty” and curates a very special music all-dayer featuring one-off live/DJ sets, collaborations and presentations – all serving as a day-long soundtrack to the exhibition.
Last but not least, an informal Q&A session with the show’s participating artists is also in the pipeline.
The exhibition will open on 23 Mar and be on display until 11 Apr 2017
at Galerie Quynh, Level 2, 151/3 Dong Khoi, Dist 1, HCMC.