Tran Luong is an independent curator, visual artist, and a major figure in creating space for critical contemporary art in Vietnam. His work is grounded in local experience. Challenging socio-political legacies and policies that repress individual expression.
A generous mentor of youth, Tran Luong goes beyond normal curatorship, encouraging performers to push the boundaries, negotiating censorship with the authorities, creating exchanges between regions in Vietnam.
His moving artworks that critique repression, emphasize human resilience, and empower the individual through personal action and self-reflection; for his dedicated energy in developing spaces, initiatives, networks and communities for performance and video arts; for questioning the dominant norms and supporting alternative visions in a context of censorship and conformity; and for his commitment to freedom of expression, community enrichment and nurturing younger generations.
This piece of work seeks to bring social issues in the perspective of civil society naturally and softly to expand the discussion forum. From there, finding positive and sustainable solutions to social issues that have been and can cause conflicts, adversely affect the natural and cultural environment, to the spirit and health of indigenous peoples.
It is also the place for activists and social organizations to meet, connect, share experiences, resources, increase mutual understanding and support. It is hoped to create an opportunity to raise the voice for activists in a place that has been noticed and has a wide range of audiences like Biennale Jogja.
In terms of art practice, I want to expand the art space out of the white cube’s framework and review the concept of “what an art product is”. This creates a challenge for the author’s role in controlling artworks.
It could also be an example of the complexity of the ‘copyright’ issue, through setting a fuzzy border in the practice of art creation subjects overlapping with the role of curation; creating an environment for young artists, ‘ivory tower’ artists, investors, officials, policymakers to research, to directly contact, and to interview individuals and groups of social activists.
Photo source: seaproject.asia
