VietNamNet Bridge – The Infinity artwork by Le Thanh Tung will be a highlight at a show of contemporary art to be held on August 19 in Ha Noi.

Mixed music: Musician Vu Nhat Tan will play electronic music combining piano and Vietnamese traditional instruments. photo anninhthudo.vn

Electronic musicians Vu Nhat Tan, Nguyen Do Minh Quan and Nguyen Huu Hai Duy will also perform at the event.

Tung’s artwork is a multimedia installation that has a 4m by 4m mirror — window.

Taking advantage of the refraction of light on the glass and the wallpaper in the background, the images from four LED screens will be reflected in the centre of the mirror, creating an effect of an infinite number of images.

“The endlessness of viewpoints is always a fascinating subject for me,” Tung said.

“Physical space limits you with dimensions, such as television screens or pictures, but their content brings an expansion of vision and imagination for you. This is an interesting point,” Tung said.

“In the process of searching for the true meaning of this ‘expansion’, which has become trendy of late with the concept of VR (virtual reality), I continue to present new suggestions about this through my new artwork, entitled The Infinity.

“Is this expansion enough for humans? Will people perceive the world with their eyes or their brains? Are we on the road to a Matrix society?”

This mirror — window will be placed in a dark environment to create focal points. The installation is centred in an area and is a bridge between the two areas of sound artists.

Tung is a visualist based in HCM City. While experimenting with animation, projection mapping, and video art, Tung uses his imagination to create playful, ironic and surreal elements with unique style.

He has contributed numerous installations and street art projects across South East Asia and Europe. He also presents live video and interactive visuals as done by visual jockeys.

The interaction between the multimedia installation and music are on two separate small stages at two distant corners.

The stages will have separate sound systems, supporting electronic music and improvisations that interact with each other and, at the same time, with the visual space created by Tung’s video art.

A mix of electronic music, piano and Vietnamese traditional instruments will be used in the show.

The show also combines creativity and improvisation, with the music interacting with images and videos in the same space, supporting each other and becoming movements of consciousness.

The visual space integrated with sound will provide a new experience to the audience’s senses. Hence, the experience will be different and stimulating, where the audience can freely move during the show in a space filled with pictures and videos, as well as music, to each corner in the whole room.

Tan is a Vietnamese composer from Ha Noi, specialising in symphony and chamber music, solo instruments and traditional instruments.

In 2002, Tan turned to experimental electronic music on computer platforms, electronic equipment and music instruments. These works were presented during his performances in Europe, America, Australia and China in collaboration with many classical and contemporary music artists.

He has been lecturing on composition and musicology at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music since 1995.

The show will begin at 6pm at Heritage Space, No 2 Tran Binh Street, Ha Noi.

VNS