OPENING MOMENTS: Organisers, artists and curators of the 'That Tomorrow Will Be' exhibition gather for a group photo at the opening ceremony. — Photo courtesy of New Zealand Embassy in Hà Nội

HÀ NỘI — A compelling exhibition of contemporary installation and media works by three artists from Aotearoa New Zealand — Christopher Ulutupu, Georgina May Young and Sorawit Songsataya — is now on display at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in Hà Nội.

Titled That Tomorrow Will Be, the exhibition is a collaborative project between the New Zealand Embassy in Việt Nam, Heritage Art Space and the Vietnamese Women’s Museum. It is supported by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with the artists’ residency sponsored by the Asia New Zealand Foundation.

Sorawit Songsataya’s Listening Devices (I – X) features a series of rattan sculptures designed to encourage active engagement with the rhythms of the earth — a tactile, sonic experience that blurs the lines between biology, geography and ecology.

Christopher Ulutupu’s New Kid in Town presents a set of vignettes from a wider series exploring moments of first contact between cultures, while Georgina May Young’s hand-embroidered textiles reflect a slow, meditative process, engaging with the latent knowledge and power held within the land.

The exhibition offers a layered conversation between culture, craft and nature — inviting visitors to listen, observe and reflect.

OFFICIAL PORTRAIT: New Zealand's Ambassador to Việt Nam Caroline Beresford.  — Photo courtesy of New Zealand Embassy in Hà Nội

“This exhibition is especially meaningful as we mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Việt Nam in 2025; a milestone we celebrate under the theme of Connecting Stars, Bridging Nations which speaks to the power of connection across cultures, across time, and across the creative realms,” said New Zealand's Ambassador to Việt Nam Caroline Beresford at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

“Their works reflect the diversity and richness of Aotearoa New Zealand’s contemporary art community, shaped by indigenous Māori perspectives, Pacific influences and colonial history.

“This exhibition stands within a larger moment for New Zealand art on the global stage. Just last year, the Mata Aho Collective was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion for Best National Participation at the 2024 Venice Biennale, affirming the global impact of Māori and Indigenous-led contemporary art.

"They follow in the footsteps of internationally celebrated New Zealand artists such as Lisa Reihana, Michael Parekōwhai, and Yuki Kihara, each of whom has made their mark through bold storytelling and powerful representation.” 

ALL EARS: Sorawit Songsataya introduces "Listening Devices (I – X)" artworks at the event. — Photo courtesy of New Zealand Embassy in Hà Nội

That Tomorrow Will Be was collectively curated by Melanie Tangaere Baldwin, Dilohana Lekamge, Milly Mitchell-Anyon, Simon Palenski and Amy Weng as part of an ongoing art residency project to extend connections between artists and curators in Aotearoa New Zealand and Việt  Nam and as a follow-up of the visit by a group of New Zealand curators to Việt Nam to engage and connect with the art communities in Hà Nội, Huế, and HCM City in 2024. 

ART FOCUS: Visitors watch Christopher Ulutupu’s New Kid in Town. — VNS Photo Lương Thu Hương

“The Vietnamese Women’s Museum is a gender museum that preserves and honours the historical and cultural values of Vietnamese women, educating and passing on invaluable heritage to younger generations and the international public,” said museum director Nguyễn Thị Tuyết. “With this mission, we cherish all artistic creations, unique ideas and meaningful activities that aim to recreate spaces connecting the past and the future, tradition and modernity, as reflected in the exhibition That Tomorrow Will Be.

“The exhibition is not only an opportunity to admire the stunning artworks from New Zealand artists but also serves as an important reminder of the need to preserve traditional cultural values in an ever-changing world, reflecting on what tomorrow will be like.

“Beyond artistic finesse, each artwork conveys profound concerns about the connection between the past, present, and future. They remind us that art is not just about aesthetic beauty; it is also a bridge between cultures and nations.” 

TEXTILE ARTISTRY: Georgina May Young’s hand-embroidered textile series are showcased at the event.  — Photo courtesy of New Zealand Embassy in Hà Nội

Art enthusiasts are invited to join a discussion with the participating artists and curators at 3pm on August 16 to learn more about the creative process, concepts and messages behind the artworks. That Tomorrow Will Be will be on display until 23 August. —VNS