”Summer Grasses” by Bàng Nhất Linh
Showcase: 20 Oct – 05 Nov 2018, 8 am – 10.30 pm
Manzi Art Space
14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi
From Manzi:
Manzi Art Space, MotPlus và Nguyen Art Foundation are pleased to present ‘Summer Grass’ – a solo show by Bàng Nhất Linh, one of the most talented and active artists of Hanoi.
“Summer grasses,
All that remains
Of soldiers’ dreams” – Basho
This is the 6th project and 5th solo show by Linh. After the show in Hanoi, the work will be exhibited in Saigon, as a part of a dual exhibition – a collaboration of Bang Nhat Linh and Wu Chi-Tsung – a Taiwanese artist, hosted by MotPlus. *
‘Summer grasses’ is Linh’s most recent work – an installation artwork which revisits and references his previous unexhibited work – ‘Hero’. ‘Hero’ created out from 2010 to 2012 was inspired by the famous naval Battle of Bach Dang – one of the greatest victories in Vietnamese war history. The artwork focuses on a large 8.5m model which was created to be just as a fragment from a Chinese battleship would appear, hanging suspended on wooden stakes, to evoke an illusion for the viewer of standing in the river bed. However, the project remained created yet unexhibited for many reasons and has existed in creation and concept for the artist alone.
The installation illuminates the famous poem entitled ‘Nam Quốc Sơn Hà’ (The Country in the South)* written in light and shadow, whilst we observe a forsaken project, through the objects shown and seen, though seemingly common and natural at first glance they repose within a situational irony… stories within stories… all set in idyllic surroundings filled and juxtaposed with a rhythmic yet melancholy atmosphere – as in their namesake Haiku poem by Basho.
*‘Nam Quốc Sơn Hà’ – ‘The Country in the South’ (Chinese characters: 南國山河): This anonymous poem is one of the best known literature pieces in Vietnamese history. Written in a form of classical Chinese poetry called seven-character-quatrain (a form of regulated verse with four lines of seven characters each), it is known as ‘The Very First Declaration of Vietnam’s Independence’. Legend describes that the poem was read aloud to divinities before and during battles to boost troops morale when Vietnam fought against the invasion from the North as long ago as the 10th Century AD.
‘Summer Grasses’ will be on display from 20 Oct to 5 Nov 2018 at Manzi Art Space, 14 Phan Huy Ích. The 1st edition of the work belongs to Renaissance School Sai Gon’s contemporary art collection.
Born in 1983 in Hanoi, Bàng Nhất Linh is considered one of the most diverse and talented artists of his generation. A keen and dedicated collector of war memorabilia, Linh’s practice is described as a survey ‘into the depths of memories, history, submerged psychological spaces, and of oblivion’.
In 2017, Bàng Nhất Linh participated in a major exhibition ‘Sunshower – Contemporary Art from Southeast Asia 1980s to now’ at The National Art Center Japan co-organised also by the Mori Art Museum and Japan Foundation Centre. His works have been widely exhibited in the Mori Art Museum, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (Japan) and BildMuseet Museum (Sweden).
Free entry
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The show is part of Manzi’s Art Programme supported by the Embassy of Denmark.
Communications partners: Hanoi Grapevine
| Manzi Art Space 14 Phan Huy Ich, Hanoi Tel: (024) 3716 3397 Facebook: fb.co/manzihanoi Opening hours: 8 am – 10.30 pm everyday |
