Octupus shape: Sculptor Nguyễn Lập Phương (left) and noted Việtnamese sculptor Lê Công Thành pose next to the art piece "Peaceful Birth" by Phương (Photo courtesy of the organiser) The exhibition,"Multiculturalism", displays sculptures of 13 artists from the Asia-Pacificand Middle East regions.
Phuong’s minimalist-style steelart piece Me Tron Con Vuong (Safe Child Birth) was inspiredby the relationship between the ocean and the octopus.
“In my concept, the octopussymbolises modern artists, who are required to be smart, flexible, adaptable toany cultural and social change and able to work in any multiculturalenvironment. Its long arms are an important organ to absorb information fromthe ‘multicultural ocean’,” the 28-year-old sculptor explained.
Consisting of a round anddark-coloured base and a metal round-shaped octopus above, the piece alsoexplores the traditional concept of “Round Sky, Square Earth”, reflectingVietnamese respect for the heaven and earth.
The female artist also appliedsilver sheet inlaid, a traditional Vietnamese technique used in making lacquerand ritual items, onto her gilded piece. A layer of natural lacquer (sap of theRhus succedanea tree), is also used in the work to enhance its gilding inlay.
The Hai Phong-born artistexplained that contrasting elements - steel and silver sheet - representhard-to-harmonize conflicts in a multicultural context: old–new,traditional–modern, positive–negative, and national identity–global acceptance.
The exhibition includes pieces byartists from Australia, China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, theRepublic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and theUnited Arab Emirates.
Alongside those artworks, theexhibition also honours the winners of the “Art Inspired by Architecture”pattern design challenge that ran in Vietnam over the last few weeks. Moreover,the event also showcases a collection of the latest Artist Editions lavatories.
This is the second Kohler Bold.Art exhibition in Vietnam. Last year it featured 12 contemporary sculptures bysix rising Asian artists, including Vietnam’s Nguyen Ngoc Lam.
The free exhibition starts onAugust 17 at 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street. From Hanoi, the exhibition will travelaround the region in 2017 and 2018.-VNA
VNA
