Recently, 21 artworks have been on display at an installation art exhibition as part of the festival for foreigners named “Da Nang International Big Day-out 2023” which took place at the APEC Sculpture Park in December.

A watercolour painting of Temporary Housing (locally called Nha Cho) on the Han River was displayed at the installation art exhibition. Photo: H.T.V.

Organized by the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, this year’s festival featured a wide range of lively and attractive music and art performances by foreign artists and actors living and working in Da Nang.

Artworks by young artists of the "Da Nang Tui" group have been introduced to local residents and tourists, and their artworks blended a myriad of art forms, ranging from traditional to modern, from handmade crafts to high-tech applications, making art accessible, interactive, and experiential for the viewers.

25-year-old Himari Yamato from Japan, a visitor to the exhibition shared her excitement: "Before visiting Viet Nam for my business trip, I spent time learning about the people and culture of Viet Nam through books, newspapers, radio, and the internet. So, admiring the "Da Nang Tui" group's artworks at the festival gave me a chance to explore the Nam O Fish Sauce Village, the Marble Mountains, or beautiful Han River with the city’s iconic bridges. Even more fascinating, I had the opportunity to watch an animation depicting the fish sauce processing in the Nam O Village. If I get to spend more time in Viet Nam, I plan to visit traditional craft villages for a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture."

Engrossed in the artwork named ‘Fishing nets on the waves’ through an Augmented Reality (AR) application, architect Nguyen Toan Anh, 30, commented that the exhibition offered not just a chance to view the art but also to immerse himself in it with the help of the AR technology.

He was deeply impressed with a watercolour painting of Temporary Housing (locally called Nha Cho) which depicted a holographic image of temporary housing on the Han River before the year 2000, with metal roof and bamboo walls.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thien Hieu, the leader of the "Da Nang Tui" group, revealed that 21 artworks on display at the recent festival for foreigners have been chosen from the group’s past previous exhibitions, namely ‘Da Nang Tui’ 2018, ‘Nghe’ 2020, and ‘Lenh Denh’ 2022.

This year's artworks were displayed in line with three themes namely ‘Mountains’, ‘Rivers’, and ‘Sea’." Paintings and creations depicting the majestic Marble Mountains, the Hai Van Gate, the Son Tra Peninsula, and Ba Na Hills were arranged in the ‘Mountains’ theme while the "Rivers" them showcased six artworks depicting Da Nang's beautiful beaches, the (Rong) Dragon Bridge, the Han River Bridge, and ‘Nha Cho’. The 'Sea' theme showcased nine artworks depicting the Nam O Fish Sauce Village, local fish markets, Vung Thung Bay, coracle boats, and the daily life of fishermen. The diverse array of artworks on display ranged from watercolor paintings and animations to pixel art, holograms, and augmented reality technology.

In addition to displaying these works, the ‘Da Nang Tui’ group enhanced the interactive experience for visitors by hosting activities such as fortune telling fish and paint-by-numbers during the exhibition.

The installation art exhibition aimed to honour the city's natural beauty and its cultural charms, as well as promote the city's cultural heritage to local young people, especially foreigners. The event also aimed to connect Vietnamese artists with foreign ones in Da Nang.

“Innovating beyond an conventional exhibition, our group incorporated augmented reality for an immersive, multisensory experience. Visitors can scan QR codes to delve deeper into the art, supplemented by audio descriptions for a more personal journey,” remarked Hieu.

Nguyen Van Tuan Nghia, a student  of the Da Nang University of Economics and a member of the ‘Da Nang Tui’ group, shared that the group's aspiration is to build a creative cultural space for young people who show passion for the fine arts.

Over six years of its establishment, the "Da Nang Tui" group has hosted various exhibitions, workshops, and talk shows. From 2023, the group has expanded its scope with year-long initiatives like the ‘Lens Len Podcast’ and ‘Dinning and Talking with Artists’.

In 2024, the "Da Nang Tui" group will organize a new exhibition season where visitors will have the chance to experience art through sight, touch, and a broader sensorial palette. An automated guided tour allowing individuals to discover Da Nang at their own pace is also in the plan. In addition, additional workshops, discussions, and side events will be organized.

"For me, as a local, 'Da Nang Tui' is not just about organizing exhibitions but honouring city's cultural charms. I'm driven to promote Da Nang's cultural heritage to young people in order to make sure that they understand thoroughly the culture of their city." Nghia expressed.

Reporteing by HUYNH TUONG VY – Translating by THAO TRANG