KVT – Inside the Glass Doors of An

KVT steps inside for a peek at what a classy designer can do with a bit of a wreck

I’d just been to the delightful Dong Phong Gallery to see the mini exhibition of Ta Dinh Khiem and was contemplating which flavored ice-cream I’d order from the pavement café next door when my eye was captured by an unusual, grungy, but highly effective shop front across the very up market Ly Dao Thanh St

So being a bit of a voyeur of the interesting and the unusual I had to amble across and have a peek inside the façade

And with my interest really piqued I stepped into the cool but grungy interior for an upstairs and downstairs exploration

A lot of shop owners and galleries attempt to tempt customers by using a grungy flair and a few really know what to do and they get you hooked as soon as you enter

The brains behind An, so the shop’s assistant told me, is a designer called Phuong who is a collector of nice looking things and has just the right ability to scatter them provocatively around her small premises.

There are new pieces of sculpture and ceramics by exciting artists cheek by jowl with bao cap bowls, ethnic brocade, soft leather shoes from Hoi An, shimmering creations for discerning ladies, plus other tempting bits and pieces to make you want to loosen your purse strings.

All in all it adds up to a mighty nice art type installation …though I’d hate to be in charge of the dusting!
The name An? Perhaps it’s an An without a Hoi. Next time I go to Dong Phong for an exhibition-and an icecream- I’ll pop over the road and see if the enigmatic Phuong is at home!

Being slap bang in the midst of a 5 star shopping, eating and sleeping area, An will probably garner a lot of curious passers by

PS: this is an unsolicited opinion piece