Hung Duong
01.
Stemming from a personal attempt to “see through” and understand the diverse forms and expressions of contemporary art in Southeast Asia, SEA-through is a platform where I gather thoughts, organize travel notes, and share my writings on the ever-growing and increasingly interconnected visual art scenes of the region.
As someone who is betrothed to this region, I myself am also a learner. Through my writing, I hope to expand my vision, gain more knowledge, and connect with friends who share my passions.
Saigon: Hoàng Dương Cầm
Hoàng Dương Cam, ‘Pre-helicopter Era, Michael Rabin in the middle of Dong Thap Muoi or Bach Violin Sonata 1005 Adagio’,
Chiang Mai: Nipan Oranniwesna
Nipan Oranniwesna, Then, one morning, they were found dead and hanged, 2020, ink-jet print on floor, wooden text. Installation view.
Saigon: Vy Trịnh
Vy Trịnh, VISION, 2024, Honda Vision moped chassis, flat steel bar, steel rod, organza ribbon, satin ribbon, plastic beads, nickel-plated
Manila: Fever Dream
Detail of CONSTANTINO ZICARELLI’s Dust of men (vertigo records sunset), 2023, sticker (originally graphite on paper). Courtesy the UP Vargas
Bangkok: Korakrit Arunanondchai
View of “Korakrit Arunanondchai: nostalgia for unity,” 2024, Bangkok Kunsthalle, Bangkok. Photo: Bangkok Kunsthalle. “… The space’s ground is covered
Bangkok: Veeraporn Nitiprapha
Photo taken by Peerapat Wimolrungkarat (Add) “If you’re born in Southeast Asia, ghosts can be more real than people you
03.
Core writing elements
The four pillars which ground my art writing are:
Material/Medium; Form; Concept;and Inspiration.
Each pillar will guide you into different yet interlaced aspects of contemporary art in Southeast Asia.
Material/Medium
Material/Medium refers both to the actual materials, and the socio-historical allegories and eco-political tensions embedded in them.
Form
Form pays tribute to the struggle to visualize and manifest creative thoughts through an array of expressions.
Concept
Concept embodies the perfect work inside our head: how its abstract existence propels artmakers to pursue innovation in their daily practices.
Inspiration
Inspiration alludes to effervescent thoughts, fleeting encounters, life-changing experiences, or just random miscellanies of a quotidian nature.
