Long Bien Bridge, a sketch by Vu Quang Trung. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Hanoi architecture past and present is reflectedthrough sketches and mixed media artworks displayed at an exhibition in thecity.
Titled “Hanoi Architects with Hanoi, the exhibition displayed various artworkscreated by architects such as Dinh Hai, Tran Hoang Hai and Pham Anh Quan, andtheir projects to improve living space in the capital city.
They aim to preserve memories of the past at a time when Hanoi is changing dayby day because of urbanisation, gradually losing its long-treasured charms. Thesketches preserve the city’s heritage and help people who live here gain adeeper understanding of it.
The exhibition also showcased mixed media artworks created by 40-year-oldartist Nguyen The Son.
Son’s reliefs depicts the prototypes of several typical apartment buildingscalled “nha tap the” in Hanoi, which have housed thousands of people includingKim Lien, Thanh Nhan, Thai Ha, Giang Vo and Nguyen Hong.
His art is unique. To make his works lively, Son took pictures then created 3Dreliefs with printed pictures that were pasted onto a solid backing.
The public can also see photographs of these apartment buildings with the“tiger cages” that residents build to extend their living spaces.
He also displayed artworks reflecting houses facing the street. Visitors canunderstand the rapid change in which residents have taken to erecting hugebillboards that cover their entire house fronts and compete for the viewer’sattention with their bright colours.
“Instead of windows and balconies which facilitate the communication betweenneighbours, tall billboards seal the houses off, both towards the street, theoutside, as well as the inside,” said the artist. “What remains is a lightlessliving space behind the façade, losing value, as well as a city with a changedface.”
The exhibition will run until February 15 at the AgoHub, an information centrefor creative communities, 12 Hoa Ma street, Hanoi.
The Hanoi Architects Association hosted the event with the aim of encouragingarchitects and other people to join hands to improve and renovate the livingspace in the city, according to architect Tran Huy Anh, a member of theorganising board.
An exhibition of projects to renovate Phung Hung street will beorganised on February 2 at the area of murals on vaults of Phung Hung street.The railway viaduct spans on the street have been turned into canvas for an artproject by the Hoan Kiem district People’s Committee, UN-Habitat and the KoreaFoundation.
The project is part of the programme to introduce art into urban areas, startedin August of last year.
Significant public art projects in Hanoi will be honoured during a ceremonyheld on February 3 at the Hanoi Urban Planning Institute, Cau Giay district.-VNA
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