November Open Studio “Physicality”

30 Nov – 03 Dec 2013, 2 – 6 pm
Nha San Collective

From Nhasan Collective:

Nhà Sàn Collective invites you to November Open Studio “Physicality” by Tuấn Mami.

PHYSICALITY

. Installation: 12 cactuses.

. Material: Wall mortar from Room 1; Glass from “Utopia”; Cactuses from Ba Vi

National Park, Wooden pedestal from Dong Ky village.

The artwork is based on research done at Room 1, Nha San Collective, Zone 9, Hanoi; the former Central Pharmaceutical Factory II, which originated from Army Medical Department Pharmaceutical Factory (established in 1947 with the purpose of producing medicines for the army).

The permeation of perennial chemicals makes the room reeked of medicines and it is deeply ingrained in the humid walls, creating a haunting about life, death and the invisible existence of the physical world.

I invited an old friend to make the artwork with me, Mr. Kinh, manager of Ba Vi Cactus National Park. He was born in France in a Vietnamese family. He returned to Vietnam since he was a child, then joined the resistance army to fight against America and China. After the war, with the love for plants he moved to Ba Vi mountain to live and work ( he is also the manager of Bamboo and Pine National Park). He chose the most suitable cactuses to grow in boxes of humid wall mortar from Room 1 to display there.

Through the retention and transformation of material, the material itself becomes a historical existence, a haunting memory and a new story has begun.

The new faith in a physical world gradually transforms into a belief, an obsession with the natural law of reincarnation, despite what we want or do not want to accept.

Tuan Mami, November 2013

Communication partner: Hanoi Grapevine

Nhà Sàn COLLECTIVE is not a museum, a gallery or an international culture institute where completed work are presented by established artists. Just like Nhà Sàn Studio before, it is a working studio to nurture where artists can create, collaborate, be given advices, critiques, and have chances to meet with international artists, curators. Works that are presented at open studio every month could be finished or not, but the process of developing idea and working to improve the quality of the art work for local artists is what Nhà Sàn COLLECTIVE focus on.
Nhà Sàn COLLECTIVE will have “Open Studio” every last Saturday of each month to show the artist’s process of working.
If you are interest and curious about experimental art, and want to have conversation with the working artists, please visit

Nhasan COLLECTIVE 3rd Floor, Block A, 9 Tran Thanh Tong, Hanoi Click to image to view map