OUROBOROS by Hà Minh
Opening: Thurs 06 Apr 2023, 06:30 pm – 09 pm
Exhibition: 07 – 25 Apr 2023, 09:30 am – 06 pm
Work Room Four
31 alley 67 Tô Ngọc Vân, Hà Nội
From the organizer:
The Ouroboros is an ancient circular symbol that depicts a snake or dragon devouring its own tail and is used to represent the eternal cycle of destruction and rebirth, just like this potent alchemical symbol of the perpetual nature of existence, this body of work represents beginnings and ends in multiple contexts. Ouroboros is Hà Minh’s first solo exhibition of paintings and this body of work has been created over a period of three years during an exceptional time in Ha Minh’s life, creativity has been her rudder since her early years and Ouroboros marks the beginning of something new and the end of a chapter of creative practice. A self-taught painter, Hà has always been propelled by an innate desire to draw and create, she has honed her incredible raw talent through focused independent study, committing to drawing almost entirely from life to acutely develop her capabilities.
Paintings for the series began during the isolated times of COVID 19 social distancing, the work centres around a deeply personal, intimate subject – the artist’s teddy bear. Hà began her painting studies by familiarising herself with classical techniques and methods based on studies of the human form from life. In lockdown this became impossible, she turned to the simple props she had available to maintain her practice. Teddy became Hà’s muse, model, silent witness and confidant. Navigating the complexities of her life, her self identity and dedicating herself to her work in a conservative and sometimes hostile home environment as a young trans woman – alone.
The paintings in the series form together a space of fantasy and child-like wonder as well as a space of self-introspection where Hà comes to terms with, and embraces her womanhood and her burgeoning identity as a queer artist. This exhibition is very special to her because she feels as though she is coming out again, this time not to the world but to herself: “it’s ok to be a woman in this world, you will be fine (and you can even thrive)”.
About the artist:
Born in 1994 in Hanoi, Hà Minh is currently living and working in Hanoi. Form and colour inform her current work in oils. She studies colour by observing natural forms and landscapes and integrates with the inspiration of form from the human figure. At the intersection of these studies of form and colour, she finds the core of her primary inspiration. Hà Minh uses these building blocks to work instinctively, she aims to construct an escape through her work where she is able to grieve the loss of her childhood and celebrate dreams, sexuality, and the diversity of human identity. She is interested in exploring dualities through her painting: shape and chaos, form and abstraction, spilling over the picture plane alongside the value of negative space, light and dark, colours and clashes. She aims to balance these seemingly contrary forces of “yin and yang”, femininity and masculinity, and explore the spectrum between them. This search for balance and contrast resonates with her heritage as a Vietnamese person and her background as a transgender artist.
Hà Minh has participated in numerous Art For You Fairs and exhibitions at Work Room Four since 2018 and also Hanoi Art Connecting 5 at Vincom Center for Contemporary Art, Hanoi (2022), Artistic Anatomy – Vinschool Central Park, Van Lang University Saigon, Hanoi Architecture University (2023), Earth Body Blood Water – Nha Song Project, Hanoi and Ruc Ra Ruc Rich – 11 Toong spaces in Hanoi, Saigon, Da Nang & Toong Gold Coast Nha Trang (2020)
*For the opening night there will be no parking at the venue, please park your vehicle at the parking area next to Quảng Bá Park on the corner – there will be signage. The walk back is only 2 mins, parking is free.
*For those of you who have not visited us before our address is misleading, we are closer to Tây Hồ street on alley 67 than Tô Ngọc Vân
*If you are travelling from downtown it is better to turn down Tay Ho street and get out of the taxi at Hanoi Sandwich House (48 Đ. Tây Hồ Street), and then walk around the corner to lane 67 where we are located on the right hand side of the lane.
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