Going through the moon gate at night along the stone-paved banks of Suzhou is the first steps one should experience to enter the landscape of the “Venice of the East”. This elements of Suzhou’s classical garden architecture marks the transition of the different spaces which should be hidden and only revealed while exploring the city with a contemplative mind.
In the age of overtourism and snapshots , the moon door (yuèliàngmén) is still acting its role as a profound intersection of functional design,
Some cities once experienced a so-called golden age. Their legends originate either from their rich history or from something uniquely special that sets them apart from others. Cholon, founded in the late 18th century, was never part of Saigon—the city now known as Ho Chi Minh City. Its name means “big market,” reflecting its role as a vibrant Chinese trading community and serving as the commercial and cultural hub for Chinese immigrants settling in Saigon.
Skyscrapers in Hong Kong are among the most iconic and impressive in the world, reflecting the city’s status as a major global financial hub and urban marvel. Hong Kong boasts one of the highest concentrations of skyscrapers globally, with over 7,000 buildings exceeding 100 meters in height.
To shape its iconic skyline with a more distinctive style, several renowned architects such as I.M. Pei for the Bank of China, N. Foster for the International Commerce Centre (ICC),
The exhibition “Seas of Silk” by research-based artist Quang deLam at Lotus Gallery features a rich and multi-layered scenography. Complementing deLam’s paintings is a curated series of statues from the Óc Eo civilization.
These statues are drawn from photographs taken during a special August 2025 exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City dedicated to Vietnamese National Treasures.
This unique combination of contemporary paintings and and black and white photography provides essential contextual perspective,
The Evolution of the “Far East” Through Travel and Art
The article traces the evolution of the concept of the “Far East” from a romanticized travel destination to a complex, multicultural identity. It begins with a personal reflection on how a vintage photo album of a French tea producer’s journey to Vietnam sparked a feeling of authentic travel, a sensation lost in modern, routine air travel. This sentiment is contrasted with the early travelogue of Goethe’s “Italian Journey,”
Phố Trần Hưng Đạo ở Chợ Lớn là một trung tâm thương mại sầm uất, nổi tiếng với những khu chợ đường phố sôi động, các cửa hàng đa dạng và vô số quán ăn. Đây là con đường cửa ngõ dài nhất và là trục đường chính của Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, đi qua nhiều khu dân cư và trải dài khoảng 6 km. Lịch sử của con phố gắn liền sâu sắc với sự phát triển của chính thành phố.
Nhân dịp kỷ niệm 50 năm kết thúc chiến tranh, tôi quyết định mạo hiểm đến DMZ, nằm cách cố đô Huế khoảng 100 km. Đây không phải là lần đầu tiên tôi đến vùng đất này, nhưng một rào cản tâm lý chắc chắn đã kìm hãm sự tò mò của tôi khi đi theo con đường hướng về phía bắc này, không thực sự gặp thêm những điểm du lịch văn hóa hay ven biển nào.
Gardens hold a significant place in various mythologies around the world, often symbolizing paradise, creation, and the divine. More then now then ever gardens provide a direct connection to nature, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life.
In Japanese mythology and Zen Buddhism, gardens are seen as places of meditation and reflection. They often symbolize the natural world in its most essential and abstract form. Early gardens were influenced by Chinese garden philosophy,
“I’m contemplating the mountains crossed by the stripes in geometric pattern similar to the locals clothing fabrics. These people have found refuge here, among the heights that scare both Hans and Kinh people from the lowlands. To grow rice, they patiently engraved the land into embroideries of laces that are stretched as far my eyes can see. These strata are marks of time like the concentric circles of a tree. After this stop, my guide Nam and I get back on our bike to reach Dong Van before nightfall.
This series intricately depicts selected nodes of the different threads woven throughout the last century of Vietnamese history, employing narrative elements reminiscent of a compelling tale.
According to ancient Vietnamese mythology, the people of Vietnam are believed to be descendants of a dragon and an Immortal. The prominent myth of the origins of the Vietnamese people involves Lạc Long Quân, a dragon lord, and Âu Cơ, a fairy, who had 100 children from 100 eggs.
Photographer Quang Lam delves into the profound context behind his latest series.
“It all began with my exploration of my family’s ancestral tombs in Bac Lieu. According to family records, our ancestral vault is situated in the tranquil village of Hoa Binh, in the sub-prefecture of Vinh Loi, Bac Lieu province. My father was born in this village, which is home to around 2,000 residents and lies just 5 kilometers from the coast.
This series discusses the interplay between documentary and fiction in storytelling, drawing on quotes from Jean Luc Godard, a key figure in the French New Wave :
“All great fiction films tend toward documentary, just as all great documentaries tend toward fiction . . . One who opts for one necessarily finds the other at the end of his journey.” “A story should have a beginning, a middle, and an end… but not necessarily in that order.”
It highlights that effective narratives often combine elements of both genres,
“The bridge was built in 1899–1902 by the architects Daydé & Pillé of Paris, and opened in 1903. Before North Vietnam’s independence in 1954, it was called Paul-Doumer Bridge, named after Paul Doumer – the governor-general of French Indochina and then French president. At 2.4 kilometres in length,it was, at that time, one of the longest bridges in Asia.
Some parts of the original structure remain intact, while large sections have been built later to repair the holes.
Before the bridges were built to span the various arms of the Mekong river, traveling through the Delta meant to wait for the ferries. The most famous one was replaced by the Cần Thơ Bridge, constructed over an arm of the Mekong, the Bassac (or Hau Giang), near the city of Cần Thơ. “It’s the crossing of a ferry on the Mekong. The elegant man has stepped out of the limousine. He smokes an English cigarette.
By Prof. Steve Bisson, Paris College of Art Chief editor Urbanautica Institute
THE WEIGHT OF REMEMBRANCE AND TIME SCLEROSIS
“Strips of land emerging from the sea of amnesia, that\’s memory. Sooner or later, they will sink. So, sailing in time to explore their internal geography may be fruitful.”
“[…]Quang Lam’s work offers an excellent visual viaduct to its understanding by depicting the iconic history of the so-called Independence Palace of Vietnam.
“This show will explore the dynamic interaction between XEM’s artworks, innovative installation concepts, and viewer engagement, creating a lively and evolving environment. Be part of it to experience the energy and creativity that XEM brings to the forefront of contemporary photography, as they continue to redefine the medium’s role in both archival truth and fictional creation.” Text by Vin Gallery
Visual artist Quang Lam explores the relationship between maps and territory. It is encapsulated in the famous expression “the map is not the territory,” coined by Polish-American philosopher Alfred Korzybski.
“The Autograph Collection Hotels, in collaboration with Vinpearl Landmark 81, has launched the visionary project “Gallery in the Sky.” I would like to cultivate the values of international connections and exchanges, leveraging the unique setting of Vinpearl Landmark 81. My vision for “Gallery in the Sky” involves capturing captivating photographs of airplanes arriving from all corners of the globe, visible from the hotel. But invisible, they are like “Air Flows”.
This series captures the raw sequence by the photographer Quang Lam of events from October 5th to 12th, 2014. Organized in the style of black and white contact sheets, this presentation immerses viewers in the days when Hong Kong’s youth sought to take control of their future. Led by the 18-year-old Joshua Wong (visible in contact sheet number #5), the students occupied for two months the heart of Hong Kong in the Admiralty zone, where government buildings are located.
Trong bản đồ học, terra incognita đề cập đến các khu vực chưa được lập bản đồ hoặc ghi chép. Cụm từ này được cho là xuất hiện lần đầu tiên trong cuốn Địa lý của Ptolemy vào khoảng năm 150 CN. Nó phân định các lãnh thổ chưa được khám phá hoặc chưa được biết đến. Điều thú vị là cụm từ này cũng được sử dụng một cách ẩn dụ để mô tả bất kỳ chủ đề hoặc lĩnh vực nghiên cứu nào chưa được khám phá.
Bộ sưu tập này lấy cảm hứng từ cổ tích “Chuyện Từ Thức Cưới Tiên,” một câu chuyện khám phá cuộc đời của Từ Thức trong triều đại Trần. Anh gặp và kết hôn với một nữ thần trong thế giới thần thánh, chỉ để sau đó rời xa vợ thiên để quay trở lại quê hương. Không ngờ rằng, trong khi anh vắng mặt, hàng thế kỷ đã trôi qua trong thế giới thường.
Ngày 7 tháng 5 năm 2024, chúng ta kỷ niệm 70 năm trận Điện Biên Phủ. Bài viết này nhấn mạnh các sự kiện quân sự và Hội nghị Genève diễn ra đồng thời với những ngày cuối cùng của trận đánh diễn ra hàng nghìn km xa, kết quả của nó được theo dõi một cách háo hức bởi truyền thông Pháp.
Hội nghị Genève năm 1954 là cuộc hội nghị diễn ra tại Genève,
Hậu quả lịch sử của việc nhà Thanh lật đổ nhà Minh ở Trung Quốc vào thế kỷ 17 đã khiến những người trung thành với nhà Minh phải tìm nơi ẩn náu ở Đông Nam Á. Ở Việt Nam, những người Hoa nhập cư này đóng vai trò tiên phong trong cuộc “Tiến vào Nam”. Họ định cư ở Biên Hòa. Đến cuối thế kỷ 18, để thoát khỏi những cuộc thảm sát do quân Tây Sơn gây ra,
Dinh Độc Lập, được hoàn thành vào năm 1966 bởi kiến trúc sư Ngô Viết Thụ, người đoạt giải Prix de Rome. Tổng thống Ngô Đình Diệm, người đã yêu cầu xây dựng chưa bao giờ sống ở nơi này. Nơi đã trở thành một bảo tàng kể từ ngày 30 tháng 4 năm 1975 khi xe tăng đâm vào cổng.
Được đổi tên thành Dinh Thống Nhất, hiện nay nơi đây là nơi tập trung tất cả các lễ hội,
Written by Dr Bridget Tracy Tan Director, Institute of Southeast Asia Arts – Art Galleries Academic Advisor (Southeast Asian Arts) Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Cách chụp của Quang Lâm hoàn toàn xoay quanh sự chơi, nhưng nó cũng xoay quanh trách nhiệm. Anh muốn người xem ý thức về cách họ trải nghiệm những trải nghiệm của họ, về điều gì xảy ra thông qua những suy nghĩ họ nghĩ,
By Prof. Steve Bisson, Paris College of Art Chief editor Urbanautica Institute
The living conditions of the masses have not always coincided with an earthly Eden. Even today, this is the case if we observe urbanism and, in particular, the state of the suburbs or the metropolitan densities that leave little space for green dreams. A terrace is already a privilege. In its progressive urbanization, the human species has distanced itself from nature,
The Art Project – Air Skylen is participating the Biennale The Wrong 6th Edition, within the Pavilion ANIMA “Directory”, curated by Tam Nguyen, with advisories from Mai Huyen Chi & Xuan Ha and support from Duyen Le and Lien Nguyen
Most of the countries in the Far East have coastlines. These territories will be affected by the sea level rising such as the megacities of Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, as it is written in the new study of the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the University of La Rochelle in France and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in the United States (NCAR).
By 2100, nearly 50 million people will face this higher than expected rise in sea levels.
The main idea of the Quang Lam’s work in this exhibition is to explore the concept of the Far-East Asia in which Saigon and Singapore were essential nodes for its representation.
From wikipedia about:
“The term first came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 15th century, particularly the British, denoting the Far East as the “farthest” of the three “Easts”, beyond the Near East and the Middle East.[..] Significantly,
This series has been displayed at Sa Sa Art Projects in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) with the XEM collective
Excerpt for the presentation text by curator Lyno Vuth
“In the exhibition, physical works by each of the five artists take forms extending from their presentation in the magazine. The works presented here by XEM deal with not only what separates us but also what bonds and unites us. The very same things can produce multiple complex effects.
«True rebellion is what calls into question the preconstituted order, not that it neglects it in favor of a permanently anarchic or hedonistic immaturity.»
In Quang Lam’s recent series ‘Hong Kong 2047’ the photographer alternates some vertical portraits of grotesque skyscrapers, depicted almost as if they were totems, with close-up images of remote control and surveillance systems. The cold linear,
The texte has been written by Blanche CARDONER (Ecole du Louvre) in her study – Contemporary photography Vietnamese and memory, Selection of works by contemporary Vietnamese artists or the diaspora working on their History
Manifestations and reminiscences of History: Quang Lam, R Like (2012 – 2015)
Quang Lam, on the contrary, is interested in a space highly representative of Vietnamese history in R Like… (2012 – 2015). The series may also be titled Reunification’s Reminiscence.
To fly is one of the deepest dream of 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.
Project Air SkyLen
The project is to build a virtual airline company named Air SkyLen
Airlines are the symbols of the technology’s level of a country.
At the Art Institute of South-East Asia in Singapore, the Terra Utopia series is currently on display as part of the exhibition XEM – Meta Far-East. This captivating collection explores the evolution of perceptions of the “Far East,” tracing its journey from antiquated geographical views to a more nuanced understanding shaped by the colonial era and the pressing challenges posed by climate change.
The photographs resemble aerial landscapes of uncharted coastal territories, evoking the sense of mystery that surrounded Far East Asia,
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,
Những tài liệu (văn bản, hình ảnh) của Air Vietnam trước 1975 là một phần sưu tầm chúng tôi . Họ lấp đầy khoảng trống trong lịch sử chính thống của Hàng không Việt Nam. Được trưng bày dưới dạng làm sẵn trong triển lãm Air Skylen, những tài liệu lưu trữ này cho thấy tầm quan trọng của việc sở hữu các hãng hàng không của đất nước trong quá trình phi thực dân hóa,
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 is derived from the term “Skyline,” which refers to the apparent juncture of earth and sky, often describing the silhouette of city skyscrapers against the sky.
This installation is a part of Air Skylen projectdisplayed 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.
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.
The myth to reach the sky is as old as humanity, especially told in the myth of Icarus. It has become technologically possible in 20th century.
Architecture also embraced this myth as the new credo. Nowadays, the term skyline is used to describe this type of urbanism based on the vertical line. Skyscrapers became the symbols of the superpower of capitalism
With the vibrant red and blue colors which are creating a time lag impression,
Speaking about “Extinction” is not only about physical matters but also on what is defining us as social humanity within an economical and legal system. Hong Kong is a unique because of its location as a door for both capitalism and communism world. With its history and its economic power, it was and is in the avant-garde and a laboratory of what will happen in the near future.
2047 is the expiration date of the Basic Law which currently is giving the status of special administrative region (SAR) of China for 50 years.
A series of sit-in street protests, often called the Umbrella Revolution and sometimes used interchangeably with Umbrella Movement, or Occupy Movement, occurred in Hong Kong from 26 September to 15 December 2014.
The protests began after a decision regarding restrictive reforms to the electoral system. Key areas in Admiralty, Causeway Bay and Mong Kok were occupied and remained closed to traffic for 77 days.
This series of photos has been taken in Admiralty district where the headquarters of the government,
The Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement, also known as the 2019 Hong Kong protests are a series of demonstrations since 15 March 2019 in response to the introduction by the Hong Kong government of the Fugitive Offenders amendment bill on extradition. Large-scale demonstrations took place gradually to a peak of 2 million people participating. Clashes between protesters and the police became the norms.
At the 12th week of protestation The Hong Kong protest movement reached a peak during the march in the Kwun Tong district in Kowloon.
“Movement and tranquility alternate and become the root of each other, Separating into yin and yang and so establishing the two modes…. The interaction of the two forms of qi transform and generate the myriad things. The myriad things sprout out up again and again and change without end”
-Zhou Dunyin (1017–1073) He was a Chinese philosopher during the Song Dynasty. He conceptualized the cosmology,
Although Tibetan Buddhism integrates the three main vessels of Buddhism, it is distinguished by a set of practices and historical and artistic traditions that give it its special character.
The immensity of its territory, its millennial and contemporary history have shaped its expression and its art which are not only visible in the temples but along the roads and within the magnificent landscapes of the Himalaya.
“All great fiction films tend toward
documentary, just as all great documentaries tend toward fiction . . . One who
opts for one necessarily finds the other at the end of his journey.” “A story
should have a beginning, a middle, and an end… but not necessarily in that
order.”
These quotes are from Jean Luc Godard, most influential director of the French New Wave in the 60s which brought life into film with visual experimentation,
