Shipping Forecast South China Sea, 11th June 2017

‘Coral Sea As Rolling Thunder’ (2017) installation for Art Basel Statements traces how rapid economic growth, communication and exchange alters subjecthood in contemporary Vietnam.

Tieu has further shot a series of photographs in response to the environmental incident, which occurred in 2016, when Formosa Plastics Group released toxic chemicals into the ocean, where Tieu during this time shot her video work. Across the installation – ranging from the three photographs Inhale, Exhale, Inhale Again (all 2017) hung on melted aluminium bars and a LED sculpture installation – Tieu expands on the exploration of the fragility of the body, singling out details of the daily exposure to pollution. The sculptural LED work shows the marine weather forecasts for the South China Sea, an area in front of the Vietnamese coastline that is currently claimed by China and where Formosa’s toxic spill occurred. In these weather forecasts Tieu investigates unforeseeable influences causing humans and environments to adapt, alter and self-repair. Underpinning the installation, the modified aluminium structure, reminiscent of this observation, references architectural design and the organic body equally, thus pointing out the interactions and crossing lines between corporate and individual responsibility, private and public sectors.

Blinded girl in the world of light 6

Fascinated by science, in this exhibition, the artworks are results of Ngọc Nâu’s understanding of light, from the perspective of physics, chemistry, astronomy, philosophy and psychology. In order to better understand these abstract theories, Ngọc Nâu creates abstract fictional landscapes – a possible alternate universe. Ngọc Nâu takes us on a journey to that possible planet, where a girl is lost in a world of twinkling stars in ‘Blind girl in the land of light’ – a set of 6 photographic light-boxes. This blind girl stands, walks, and falls down in her own darkness, without being able to see the vibrant light around her. Is this blind girl Ngọc Nâu? Is she searching for light within her, rather than the external world?

Blinded girl in the world of light 4

Fascinated by science, in this exhibition, the artworks are results of Ngọc Nâu’s understanding of light, from the perspective of physics, chemistry, astronomy, philosophy and psychology. In order to better understand these abstract theories, Ngọc Nâu creates abstract fictional landscapes – a possible alternate universe. Ngọc Nâu takes us on a journey to that possible planet, where a girl is lost in a world of twinkling stars in ‘Blind girl in the land of light’ – a set of 6 photographic light-boxes. This blind girl stands, walks, and falls down in her own darkness, without being able to see the vibrant light around her. Is this blind girl Ngọc Nâu? Is she searching for light within her, rather than the external world?

Blinded girl in the world of light 1

Fascinated by science, in this exhibition, the artworks are results of Ngọc Nâu’s understanding of light, from the perspective of physics, chemistry, astronomy, philosophy and psychology. In order to better understand these abstract theories, Ngọc Nâu creates abstract fictional landscapes – a possible alternate universe. Ngọc Nâu takes us on a journey to that possible planet, where a girl is lost in a world of twinkling stars in ‘Blind girl in the land of light’ – a set of 6 photographic light-boxes. This blind girl stands, walks, and falls down in her own darkness, without being able to see the vibrant light around her. Is this blind girl Ngọc Nâu? Is she searching for light within her, rather than the external world?