KVT – Art before Tet

KVT – Art before Tet

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Art for Tet

The best visual stuff around town right now is being delivered on the back of motor bikes and small trucks, or along some of the streets like Au Co. Peach trees, cumquat trees, apricot trees, potted flowers of all sorts.

Don’t you just love those golden orbs of grapefruit on some of the trees for rent over the Tet period. Some foreigners rush away at Tet without even a dismissive glance at the fabulousness of the last seven days that starts with the burning of offerings to the kitchen gods and the freeing of golden carp. Ma May street is a treasure trove of red and gold and if you take the effort to wander around slowly (and in some places you can’t go above a snail’s pace) with an unprejudiced eye, it’s all a gorgeously vibrant installation…..some foreigners don’t even buy so much as a peach branch to celebrate….I hope the heavenly Jade entity gets them.
I love these final days of Tet frenzy and want to help the economy and buy all the tacky glitz I can get my hands on…..but I guess it’s a bit like you Christians with Christmas baubles. What do you do with them afterwards?
The eve of Tet is my favorite. The fireworks, the sugar cane sticks, the fresh branches, the smell of incense hanging low….and then the absolute, almost spooky quiet of early Mong Mot, Tet Day.
The art scene at present has no hope of competing. It’s not worth giving opinions on group shows though Studio Tho’s on Saturday was a strong, eclectic throw together of worthwhile, collectable pieces.
The best arty place I’ve seen recently, and perhaps because its as vibrant as the run up to Tet, is the gallery 39 on Ly Quoc Su, not far from Nha Tho. The collection of modern contemporary work is excellent and displayed in the most surprising places. It’s the sort of place you could live in. It makes you feel really comfortable all over, a bit like eating piping hot, shallow fried Banh Trung on a cold winter’s morning.

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