Vu Nhat Tan – Sound Art at Manzi

Hanoi Grapevine is pleased to introduce our latest opinion contributor – sound artist/musician/composer Vu Nhat Tan.

Everyone already knows about his unique experimental sound art, but not many are aware that Vu Nhat Tan is also a researcher and writer of contemporary music. And Hanoi Grapevine is very lucky to have him on board to review about the experimental music events happening around town.

And here is his first review about Singaporean sound artist Dennis Tan on the occasion of Dennis’s visit to Hanoi and having a night performance in Manzi. For more information about this special kind of art, please take the time to read the following article:

On the night of 27 May, in addition to electronic music and DIY instrument performance by Vu Nhat Tan and “one man band” Nguyen Van Thao, the audience had a pleasant surprise to have a rare opportunity to experience “sound art” from Singaporean artist, Dennis Tan.

Dennis Tan is a sound artist whose work results from his interest in conceptual art and the combination between DIY structure and complex programming software that we can call “sound architecture” or “sound art”. He is considered an improvisor and experimental artist who invents new instruments used for his own creativity. Tan has performed with various sound artists and has played in Germany, Finland, Poland, Estonia, Bangkok and Singapore. In 2011 he co-hosted a series of DIY electronics workshops and currently is conducting these workshops in Bangkok, Leipzig and Singapore.

Tan’s sound performance at Manzi was very interesting. He started with heavy bass and then gradually built the sound architecture above it, the whole process was generated by a laptop, Max MSP software, midi controllers and available sound samples.

Tan is not really a musician because he does not specialize in the performance of rhythmic music. However, neither is he a mere researcher, a programmer nor a specialized creator of new musical instruments. He is a “sound artist” who builds the sound architecture and structure and then considers them completed works that have actual shape and present them to the audience. However, sound in reality is intangible and happens in chronological order, we cannot see or touch it, but can only listen and feel by senses and emotions. Thus, Tan’s performance can be considered to be an exhibition and a live performance combination where the audience grace/listen/enjoy his process of building sound until it becomes a completed work.

That was a difficult thing for both the artist and the audience. Therefore, it was not surprising that most of the audience quietly left the room while Tan was focusing on building his work. Obviously it is not easy for such intangible work which is still unfamiliar in Vietnam to attract the audience immediately.

However, a big thank to Tan for introducing his artwork at Manzi art space. Sincere gratitude to Manzi, a rare art space in Hanoi that enthusiastically supports and creates innovation. Thank to whoever that stayed till the end of the performance for your understanding and sharing.

Photo: Dennis Tan by Nha San Collective and Manzi

Translated by Hanoi Grapevine