Notes of an Imaginary culture

Opening: Wed 24/03, 6.00 pm
Exhibition: 24 Mar – 16 Apr
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

This is the third exhibition of Australian sculptor Clare Martin in Vietnam and her second exhibition at the Museum of Ethnology, sponsored by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.

Click on the image for a larger version.

Since Clare is an artist rather than an ethnographer, she tried to imagine what it  would be like to go on a journey of discovery, and find an unknown ethnic group. She imagined what customs would be new and strange. Then she tried to make artefacts like this, to show in a Museum setting. The materials used are mainly recycled, such as aluminium cans, because she “found” that her ethnic group used a lot of such things. They also used a lot of recycled culture, even using art as the basis of everyday things. There were signs that this people had been agricultural, and vestiges of farming practices continue in their lives, but now they live on the borders of cities, and have suffered the effects of colonisation.  Why should we admire this culture ? They don’t take authorities too seriously. They are dispersed and may not live close to each other but they have a strong sense of community. These people are very inventive and show great capacity to make useful objects out of whatever is available. They also show a great sense of humour and an ability to laugh at themselves. Let’s hope they survive.

Since first coming to Vietnam in 1991, Clare has travelled and worked extensively in Vietnam, twice taking part in the Huế Sculpture Symposium (2006 & 2008), and mounting an exhibition in Australia about her experience of Vietnamese culture (Screening the Buddha, 2006). She first worked as artist-in-residence at VME in 2002, when she received an Asialink scholarship to produce the show Tự do/Freedom. Clare currently works at the Australian National Capital Artists studios in Canberra and frequently uses recycled materials in her sculpture.