Photography Exhibition “The Soul of Vietnam” by Lawrence D’Attilio

Opening: Sun 22 Nov 2015, 3 pm
Exhibition: 22 Nov – 13 Dec 2015
Work Room Four

From the organizer:

This is the fifth time, the photography project “The Soul of Vietnam” by the multi-talented American artist, Lawrence D’Attilio, is introduced to the public in Vietnam and the US. Two first exhibitions took place respectively in 2008 at Studio Tho and Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. Two subsequent exhibitions were organized by the Tamarack Gallery (Madison, Wisconsin, curator John Riggs, 2012) and the Museum of the Gulf (The Museum of the Gulf Coast, Texas, USA, 2014).

The exhibition showcases some 35 photographs taken during 2007 – 2015, during which he has lived each year from 3 to 6 months in Vietnam. The three main themes of this exhibition are landscapes, characters and different moments, to express his feelings about, and viewpoints on, a changing of a country of boundless energy, including images representing women who have normal appearance but hide an extremely intense vitality and distinction.

The photos were edited on a computer, but not changed much, then printed in limited edition at his studio in America on five special photograph materials. They were also recorded by the number in each edition. This approach helps to bring the best appearance for every photo in the show.

The team Work Room Four and photographer Lawrence D’Attilio have the honor to introduce to you to the exhibition “The Soul of Vietnam”, with 35 images altogether according to classic techniques. This is a pleasant surprise because it was held after the exhibition titled “The New Global Women” (from November 1st to 14th, 2015, at Heritage Space, Hanoi), showcased his works of experimental photography and graphic design based on the concept of exploring the tensions of Vietnam women in a new life under pressure.

When using the methods of traditional photography, the biggest challenge for Lawrence D’Attilio is how to escape the framework of a tourist photo or a souvenir postcard; it is beautiful but completely similar to countless images of other photographers. Thanks to the eagerness of a curious person, subtleness and sincerity of an experienced heart, Lawrence D’Attilio seems to have overcome this challenge lightly. He shortened the path to communicate with the people and landscapes of Vietnam by his deep sympathy for the land. Through a microloan project to support people in Lap Thach District, Vinh Phuc province which he directly supported, he learned the story of the life and attitudes of people living in Vietnam, especially of Vietnamese women. Their braveness and courage in facing difficulties and their ethics have become a solid prop for the family. They more or less changed him and inspired his family members to come to Vietnam for new work and new life.

Details and colors in contrast, moments which he could hardly expect to keep in the photographic lens helped the artist to express many things within his soul, as well as the outside of each frame. He writes:

“Getting back to the idea of the soul of a country, maybe the place that reveals my own soul, as I attempt to understand the roots of what I experienced through the camera. I have no comment on that because I doubt if I can understand all that is inside me. However I can say that my life has been very enriched by the culture, people, history, and land in Vietnam. It has re-defined me in ways I could not have dreamed of before I first arrived in Vietnam in 2006.”

Lawrence D’Attilio and the team Work Room Four are looking forward to welcoming the public to this exhibition, sharing and searching again their own definitions of “The Soul of Vietnam”.

About the artist:

Lawrence D’Attilio is a native of New York City and currently resides in Los Angeles, California. He has a bachelor fine art degree from the University of Louisville and did independent studies in art and photography with Ansel Adams, and Professor Fred Berman. He has exhibited as an independent studio artist since 1970 in Vietnam, Malaysia, Italy, and The U.S.A. He co-founded The Bathhouse Gallery of photography in 1970 and was founder/president of The Photography Collectors investment fund and gallery in 1979. He taught photography in extensions of the University of Wisconsin, Madison, The Milwaukee Center of Photography, Cardinal Stritch University and The Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.

Lawrence is also an aircraft pilot and was founder and president of Airdance, Inc. as well as managing FBO for Capital Drive Airport, (02C). Prior to that he was the founder of the Bellanca – Champion Club providing technical support for aircraft of those brands. He is also a successful co-plaintiff in a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision involving civil liberties for people of African and Jewish heritage. Furthermore, Lawrence had a 31 year professional music career as a bassoon player for three different major American Symphony Orchestras.

Current and upcoming exhibits:

19 November 2015 – Solo Exhibit – “The Soul of Vietnam” – Workroom4, Hanoi, Vietnam

Resume – select recent exhibits and other noted events:
• 2014 – Group Exhibit – “Destinations III” – Tapak Gallery/Museum, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia, curated by Tam Nguyen and Yusof Ghani
• 2014 – Ten art works from “The Soul Of Vietnam” project acquired for permanent collection, The Museum of the Gulf Coast, Texas
• 2014 – Group Exhibit – “Destinations II” – The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts, Ha noi, Vietnam, curated by Tam Nguyen
• 2014 – Solo Traveling Museum Exhibit – “The Soul of Vietnam” – The Museum of the Gulf Coast, Texas, U.S.A.
• 2013 –Solo Exhibit – “The New Global Women” – Alfons Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A., curated by Valerie Christell
• 2013 – Solo Exhibit – “The New Global Women” – Tamarack Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin, curated by John Riggs
• 2012 – Group Exhibit – “New Photo Expression II” – Blutstein Brondino Gallery, Milwaukee, Curated by Steven Brondino
• 2012 – Solo Traveling Exhibit – “Formation – represented by Art2Art”, New York City, Curated by Hava Gurevich
• 2012 – Solo Exhibit – “The Soul of Vietnam” – Tamarack Gallery, Madison, Wisconsin, curated by John Riggs
• 2011 – Group Exhibit – “New Photo Expression I” – Blutstein Brondino Gallery (curated by Lawrence D’Attilio)
• 2010 – Solo Exhibit “The New Global Women” – University of Wisconsin Whitewater – Crossman Gallery, Curated by Michael Flanagan
• 2010 – Solo Exhibit – “The New Global Women” – Redline-Milwaukee Gallery
• 2010 – Solo Exhibit – “Ha Noi Windows” Installation Cross Discipline Work – Redline-Milwaukee Gallery
• 2009 – 2011 – Artist Resident/Mentor – Redline, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2009 – Solo Exhibit – “Ha Noi Windows” Installation/Cross Discipline Work – Milan, Italy
• 2009 – Solo Exhibit – “The Soul of Vietnam” – Studio THO Gallery, Ha Noi, Vietnam
• 2008 – Solo Exhibit – “The Soul of Vietnam” The Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts
• 2006 – Solo Exhibit – “Ha Noi Windows” Installation/Cross Discipline – Campus Ha Noi Gallery, Ha Noi, Vietnam
• 2006 – Artist Resident Three Months, Campus Ha noi, Ha noi, Vietnam
• 2006 – Solo exhibit, “Skylight Movements”, Danceworks Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2005 – Solo exhibit – VP Gallery of Photography, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2004 – Solo exhibit “Being There” The Ploch Gallery, The Sharon Lynne Wislon Center for the Arts, Wisconsin
• 2004 – Solo exhibit, “Metro Studio”, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2004 – Solo exhibit, “Meditative Work”, Fusion Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2002 – Solo exhibit, “Foreign Ideas”, Water Street Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 2002 Commissioned Permanent Photograph Mural – “Midsummer Day Dream”, Sharon Lynn Wilson Center for the Arts, Brookfield
• 2002 – Three Person exhibit, Crossman Gallery, UW Whitewater, Wisconsin
• 2001 – Solo exhibit, “Enchanted City,” Uihlein Peters Gallery, Milwaukee, Wisconsin