INTERACTIVE ART: 'Thế Giới Một Mét Vuông' (One-Square-Metre World) exhibition enables visitors to learn about the successful rescues of bears from illegal bile extraction, as well as their tear-jerking life stories.Photo courtesy of Ba Ngàn Art

by Hải Yến & Lương Hương

Taking off his shoes, going down a dim-lit basement and entering the tiny cage, viewer Bùi Tuấn Anh experiences the life of a bear on an illegal bile farm at the One-Square-Metre World exhibition that is ongoing at Ba Ngàn Art House in the northern province of Ninh Bình.

At the exhibition, he and many other visitors learn about the successful rescues of bears named Freddi, Trăng, Thi, Lim and Keo from illegal bile extraction as well as their tear-jerking life stories.

“I was overwhelmed with mixed emotions of fear, horror, sadness and confusion, with the experience that the bears have gone through when coming down that cold dark basement,” he said.

“After that visit, I really wish to visit the bears at the bear sanctuary in Ninh Bình to ensure that they are safe and sound after being rescued from such horrible places.”

The One-Square-Metre World exhibition has been jointly held by Ba Ngàn Art House and bear sanctuary in Ninh Bình since late April, aiming to raise community awareness of animal welfare and call for an end to the practice of holding bears captive for bile extraction in Việt Nam.

CHILD'S PLAY: Visitors take part in various arts activities at Ba Ngàn Art House. VNA/ VNS Photo Thùy Dung

Free exhibitions

It is one of eight exhibitions that have been organised at the art house since its opening early last year, attracting over 8,000 visitors and becoming an increasingly attractive destination in the province.

According to Sơn Đỗ Quyên, a representative of Ba Ngàn Art, it aims to introduce both traditional and contemporary art, as well as connect artists and their artworks to the community.

“Each exhibition held at Ba Ngàn Art is expected to enhance people’s aesthetic awareness and spiritual life. Therefore, they are open for free for all,” she said.

The art house also supports artists by providing all budgets covering their exhibitions, thereby giving them and their artworks the opportunity to get closer to the public.

Located in the centre of bustling Ninh Bình City, the art house retains a tranquil and rustic atmosphere. With the idea of turning it into a venue for exhibitions covering culture, art, history, heritage, as well as different aspects of the past and present, the managers of the art house have invited many artists for collaboration.

DOWN TO A T: A visitor views a Vietnamese traditional costume at the Nếp Màu Tự Nhiên (Natural Colour Impressions) exhibition. Photo courtesy of Ba Ngàn Art

One of the most impressive exhibitions was Nếp Màu Tự Nhiên (Natural Colour Impressions), co­-organised by the art house and the Hà Nội-based traditional costume design and tailoring shop Đông Phong.

The exhibition showcased 15 sets of Vietnamese traditional costumes and 27 pieces of silk fabric that were dyed entirely with natural ingredients extracted from tree bark, leaves and roots .

It also re-enacted a part of the fabric dyeing process and shared the story of the Nam Cao silk village in Kiến Xương District in the northern province of Thái Bình.

Natural Colour Impressions aims to convey the story of natural colours, and preserve and promote the traditional beauty of Vietnamese costumes spanning many dynasties, thereby honouring the cultural value and heritage of traditional crafts.

“I have researched and found that Việt Nam not only has interesting writing and cuisine, but also has beautiful traditional costumes. Inspired with strong love and pride for national culture, I came up with the idea of ​​reviving traditional costumes and displaying my design in an exhibition," fashion designer Nguyễn Đức Huy, founder of Đông Phong, said.

“Fortunately, Ba Ngàn Art has supported me to bring Vietnamese culture closer to the public, especially young people."

Tiger paintings

Right from its very first exhibition, Ông Ba Mươi (Mr Tiger), held in early 2022, the art house left a lasting impression on the art community.

Visitors to the event had the chance to contemplate 24 artworks with various styles, materials and shapes depicting the Tiger, the zodiac animal of the year, by two renowned local artists - Kù Kao Khải and Nguyễn Thanh Túc.

The image of the tiger depicted by the two artists is eye-catching and significantly different from the traditional depiction of the tiger in Vietnamese thinking.

While Khải renewed himself with painting inspiration, Túc, remains loyal to wood as a material but showcases his creative thinking and innovative approach through the use of three-dimensional figures.

The success of Ông Ba Mươi provided a launch pad for many following exhibitions at Ba Ngàn Art, such as EDEN – Mơ Về Thiên Đường (EDEN – Dream about Heaven), Ký Ức Chiến Tranh (War Memories) and Chuyện Cá Nhân (Personal Stories).

According to poet-photographer Nguyễn Đăng Hào, chairman of the Ninh Bình Literature and Arts Association, Ba Ngàn Art, initiated by the Sinh Dược Cooperative, is an exhibition space taking pioneering steps in nurturing art in localities that “lacks catalysts for the development of the art market”.

“Exhibitions at Ba Ngàn Art create the foundation for many more daring art projects in the future. At the same time, young people today can be more inspired to explore traditional culture and various aspects of life,” he said.

For viewer Anh, each exhibition has left him with a unique range of emotions. “I hope that Ba Ngàn Art will continue to hold more exhibitions with humanitarian significance in the future,” he said. VNS