To fly is one of the deepest dream of the humans. The myth of Icarus has always inspired our imagination. The Futurism art movement in the early 20th century emphasized dynamism, speed, technology, youth, through the flying machines.
Quang Lam is interested to study the modernity (of Vietnam) by its industrial and technology’s development through this universal desire. This point of view has rarely used to understand the art history of the country.
[…]
At the Art Institute of South-East Asia in Singapour , this series Terra Utopia has been displayed within the exhibition XEM – Meta Far-East. It shows how can the perception of the “Far” remain or evolve, from the antique geographical point of view to some more diverse perspectives as the colonization period to the current impact of the climate change.
These photos look like aerial landscapes of unknown coastal territories. Far East Asia was a terra incognita to be discovered.
[…]
This series has been presented at the International Photo Biennale Hanoi in 2023 at the exhibition “IN SEARCH OF THE LOST TIME”.
Quang Lam’ artist statement :
There are places where architecture and urban planning are not only shaped by the needs of the Present but also by the beliefs of a life beyond.
This photographic series is imbued with this philosophy that shaped Hue, the imperial city in central Vietnam,
[…]
This text comes from the book Mémoires de Son Excellence Huynh Con dit Đan Tường by Jean-Jacnal written 1924.
This biography of a former Minister of Rites at the Court of Annam contains historical details of his life and has an interesting description of music at the Court.
“Every night, we brought in singers. So little has been written about this category of people that no doubt I will be allowed to give some details about their life,
[…]
Theses postcards written in early 20th century are unique archive sent from Ha Noi to different capitals of the world (Paris, Beijing, New York, Bruxelles, Hong Khong) give an historical value to the artworks
These conceptual maps are related to the colonialism epoch of Viet Nam in the early 20th century.
Hanoi is drawn in transparency over the foreign city meaning the lost of sovereignty of Hanoi at the expense of the external powers.
[…]
For the creative event “Thiet Ke & Cong Nghe” in HaNoi , a whole concept of an airline company, named AIR SKYLEN has been presented
Airlines are the symbols of the technology’s level of a country. It also shares the values also international connections and exchanges.
AIR SKYLEN derived also from the term Skyline, which is the
apparent juncture of earth and sky, the horizon. It is often used to describe the silhouette of
cities skyscrapers against the sky.
[…]
This installation is a part of Air Skylen project displayed at Hanoi Creative Week 2022.
The installation has a game video installed in an immersive environment built with a large city map of Hanoi and surrounded by photos of anonymous skyscrapers photo series.
The purpose of the game is to crash the airplane into growing buildings replacing them by trees. The score is defined by a green city percentage.
[…]
“Water
haunts my dreams. It has always been source of obsession since I was a little
boy. In my obscure childhood recollections, water stirs up unsettling feelings.
I found myself in Tri An Lake by chance, the site one of the biggest
hydroelectric dams in the South of Vietnam. Here, water is the fate of the
people. They are the water and the water is their lives. It is also their
dreams, their hopes and hopelessness.
[…]
From official history to the personal and particular life : we always try to give the historical context of our archives, so here is the timeline’s snapshot for the first decade after the end of French colonisation.
1954 – Viet Minh forces attack an isolated French military outpost in the town of Dien Bien Phu. The attempt to take the outpost lasts two months, during which time the French government agrees to peace talks in Geneva.
[…]
[…]