Exhibition “The Vacant Chair” by Bang Nhat Linh

Opening: Sat 12 Sep 2015, 6 pm
Artist talk: Sun 20 Sep 2015, 4 pm Sat 19 Sep 2015, 4 pm
Exhibition: 12 – 22 Sep 2015, 10 am – 6 pm
Nha San Collective

From Nha San Collective:

Nha San Collective is pleased to introduce a solo exhibition of artist Bang Nhat Linh, titled “The vacant chair”.

Bang Nhat Linh is a visual artist who is also a collector of war memorabilia. The primary concerns and inspiration for his artistic practice is human beings. This exhibition is part of Ling’s long-term project, in which, the whole process reflects “the surveys into the depths of memories, history, submerged psychological spaces, and of oblivion…”, in which “war memorabilia are taken from their original contexts to be placed within a new context, or they are positioned in a relationship with human as communicable and interactive objects…”

“The vacant chair” is a multi-layered video installation. It is an intimate narrative, whereby social issues derived from modern history of a turbulent Vietnam are unveiled: the wounds, tolerance, optimism, as well as the special relationship amongst those who remain. From a broader angle, it suggests an universal sense of existence and death, particularly the limited nature of the human race… On the other hand, through the act of transforming a powerful symbol of war into a symbol of love and loss, the work steps out of its geographical context to tell a universal story of all humanity. “The vacant chair”, therefore, is a song of humanity, and for humanity…

*”The vacant chair” is a popular song during the American Civil War written by George F. Root in 1861 based on a poem by Henry S. Washburn. The song signifies the loss and emptiness of those who lost their loved ones in the Civil War, it specially gained empathy from both the North and the South of the United States during the war.

The exhibition is curated by Le Thuan Uyen.

Communication partner: Hanoi Grapevine

Nhà Sàn COLLECTIVE is not a museum, a gallery or an international culture institute where completed work are presented by established artists. Just like Nhà Sàn Studio before, it is a working studio to nurture where artists can create, collaborate, be given advice, critiques, and have chances to meet with international artists, curators. Works that are presented at open studio every month could be finished or not, but the process of developing idea and working to improve the quality of the art work for local artists is what Nhà Sàn COLLECTIVE focuses on.

If you are interested and curious about experimental art, and want to have conversation with the working artists, please visit

Nha San COLLECTIVE 24 Lý Quốc Sư, Hà Nội Website: www.nhasanstudio.org Email: [email protected]