Entitled Toa or The Foliage, the exhibition marks the launch ofthe Vincom Centre for Contemporary Art (VCCA), sponsored by Vietnam’s biggest realestate developer, VinGroup. The VCCA is locates within the 4,000sq.m basementof the group’s Royal City Shopping Mall.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, VinGroup deputy chairwoman Le Mai Lan said:“Many people may wonder – an art centre located at a megamall. However, thereis a message that we wish to spread: Art, especially contemporary art, not onlyresides at luxurious and glittering venues, but is present anywhere that it canreflect the breath of life, which is an endless source for it.”
“Following that motto, the VCCA not only honours art values, but also is aplace where anyone can access easily and enjoy art.”
Developed and financed by VinGroup, the non-profit centre aims to supportartists as well as to bring contemporary art closer to the public in Vietnam.It also helps improve cultural values and to promote the development of astable and professional art market.
At The Foliage exhibition, visitors can join in an art projectcalled Wish Tree by Yoko Ono.
Conceived sometime in the early 1980s after the assassination of John Lennon,Ono’s multi-site project Wish Tree consists of installations of anynumber of trees native to the sites. Visitors to the installations are invitedto write their wishes on small pieces of paper – known as "wish-tags"– and hang them onto the tree branches.
The wish-tags are collected by Ono, buried in capsules in and around her Imagine PeaceTower in Reykjavik, Iceland, which emanates a skyward light for two monthsevery year, starting on John Lennon’s birthday, ending on each anniversary ofhis passing. A monument to his memories and legacy, Wish Tree is acelebration of life, love and unity. To date, the project has visited 19different cities around the world, with something close to 1 million wishescollected for the Imagine Peace Tower.
The Foliage – the first time the Wish Tree has been presented inVietnam – loc vung trees have been chosen for the installation.
Indigenous to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, loc vung treesare most likely to be found in people’s houses and gardens, giving shade onsunny days, and also meant to bring good luck.
Alongside the Wish Tree, The Foliage also displays severalartworks by other artists.
The Foliage is open to the public until August 6.-VNA