KVT – Day 3

KVT’s Diary as he enjoys exploring Hanoi in the final days counting down to Hanoi’s birthday.

KVT says: There is so much great stuff on and so much to see in the lead up to the great day that this opinionated blogger can’t get to the lot…so if you catch an event or a memorable sight send it to [email protected] and we’ll post our favorites so that no one’s left in the dark.

After yesterday’s explosive mishap at My Dinh stadium it’s proper to think about the victims and especially their close relatives. It definitely dampened the celebratory atmosphere and, for most, made us reflect on our own mortality.

Wednesday night at L’Espace was one of those musical experiences that make you glad that you are alive. The French/Walloon jazz quartet, Dille-Ternoy, played an exhilaratingly exciting, foot-tapping, swing musette-style jazz that demanded a standing ovation. This style is characterized by a prominent accordion and this we had with brilliant Thibault Dille though Jeremie Ternoy on the piano was equally brilliant as were bass player Hache and drummer Duytschaever. TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! World class again at L’Espace for 100 000VND. Don’t miss the blues next week. Same venue, same time.

Went to the Ethnology Museum to see their advertised SE Asian display that is a precursor to the new SE Asian museum that is being built on site. The display is minimal but the new museum in its scaffolding, towering over the neighborhood is a spectacular sculptural piece that Dao Anh Khanh, the emperor of scaffold installations, would be jealous of. I showed a couple of savvy Vietnamese the image and they all exclaimed, ‘Ah! Dao Anh Khanh’. The Ethnology Museum interior is looking a bit tired and tatty and in dire need of a shot of adrenalin – though the outdoor exhibits shine. STILL VISITABLE.

Followed this up with a trek up La Thanh to the grungy but gorgeous Contemporary Art Center. It’s hard to find but, at present, worth the trip. The 6 artists behind the Restart Exhibition have an interesting and revolutionary philosophy about re-thinking and doing art… sort of chuck out the bathwater but save the baby for a modernist re-invention or re-start. As they are all intelligent young people and talented artists I will follow their trip with interest. All revolutions were started by similar idealists but later faltered as dogma, pedantics and hard liners – or experts – took over. So good luck.

So it’s an exciting, if grungy, exhibition full of great ideas and great non-deas. I’d love to add Ngo Thanh Bac’s strange abacus to my collection. Nguyen Hong Phuong’s see through, acrylic play on words is a treat. Le Anh Hoai’s WC Reading Room is grotty enough to go with Tracey Emin’s celebrated bed. The myriad paper mandarins’ boots by Do Hiep are a great concept (if falling to bits but then is that the intent?). Nguyen Hong Son’s hospital bed installation with bandaged press (Congratulations on Your Release From Hospital) is powerful. Thay Doi (Change) by Pham Tuan Tu is a naughty but nice statement about trying to escape the web of convention (I think!).

Perhaps my enthusiasm is because I’m an installation freak and have been ever since I started trying to decipher the works of Jessica Stockholder who I’m sure would tell these young people to ‘stick to their guns’. FASCINATING.

Related posts:

KVT day 1
KVT day 2
KVT day 4
KVT day 5
KVT day 6
KVT day 7
KVT day 8
KVT day 9
KVT day 10
KVT day 11
KVT day 12