“Dynamics of Identities” marks the beginning of the resort’s collaboration with CUC Gallery in Hanoi.
All photos courtesy of Regent Phu Quoc/CUC Gallery
Guests at the newly minted Regent Phu Quoc needn’t step outside its walls for a glimpse of Vietnam’s vibrant contemporary art scene: they can spend time exploring the inaugural showcase at The Gallery, a purpose-built space that shines a light on emerging and established local artists and designers. The “Dynamics of Identities” exhibition is the first in a series curated by Hanoi’s CUC Gallery, which has chosen specific pieces to appeal to Regent guests from a diverse range of nationalities and cultures.
To commemorate The Gallery’s launch, CUC Gallery is introducing travelers to three prominent names in the local art world that also represent three generations of Vietnamese artists. Hanoi-based sculptor and painter Dinh Cong Dat often depicts animals, insects, or human forms in his works, reflecting his own sense of humor. The statues of a boy in a variety of funny poses have a pop-art spirit that is further expressed through color arrays, patterns, and random signatures on clothes.
Thai Nhat Minh has used an intriguing grab-bag of materials such as wood, iron, and aluminum to create his sculptural works. White stone evokes a sense of purity, innocence, and weakness, and the animal-shaped metal frames are wrapped in papier-mâché, with the reproductive organs completely visible. Born in Central Vietnam in 1991, Saigon-based emerging artist Nguyen Ngoc Vu — also known by his nickname “Cau be tho” (literally “Rabbit Boy”) — challenges norms by combining classical Vietnamese art with modern pop culture. For this showcase, he has contributed seven artworks painted with acrylic on canvas.
The “Dynamics of Identities” exhibition runs until July, and hotel guests and visitors alike can buy any of the pieces on display.
Immortality, an acrylic painting by Nguyen Ngoc Vu (Cau be tho).
