EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 1-10 (daily updated) “Prod/Ponder” Presents Karen Fiss Sat 10 Jan 2015, 4.30 pm San Art Laboratory 40/18 Pham Viet Chanh Street, Binh Thanh District, HCMC You are invited to a lecture “Brand the Beloved Country: Navigating global economies in contemporary South African art” by Karen Fiss. In this lecture, Karen Fiss will share her current book project on ‘nation branding’, engaging postcolonial ideas and critiques of how a ‘nation’ is formed alongside an investment in integrating differing communities of people with vast networks of information technology and international trade. ‘My book examines the impact of government branding/propaganda campaigns on conceptions of citizenship and the construction of historical narratives, particularly in the wake of political conflict and trauma. I place these “top-down” efforts in tension with the work of artists’ collectives and alternative spaces that offer competing ways of imagining “collective memory” and identity within local, national, and global contexts. In many respects, the book critiques the way in which globalization has been conceived within the dominant (often neocolonial) paradigms of the art world, and seeks to identify alternative frameworks with which to understand these mechanisms of exhibition, exchange, and cultural representation. While my book considers a wide range of examples, my research abroad has concentrated on South Africa. After spending my last sabbatical there, I realized that current cultural practices in Vietnam would be a highly relevant and interesting comparative direction to take my research – hence my interest in San Art’. Karen Fiss (writer, curator and professor of Visual Studies at the California College of the Arts in San Francisco) is in Saigon to participate in ‘Prod/Ponder’, a 3 year artist-in-residence program initiated by San Art and forms part of a larger artistic project called ‘Conscious Realities’ that is sponsored by a Network Partnership between the Prince Claus Fund and San Art. Event is free and will be conducted in English and Vietnamese. Seats inside are limited. Please arrange to come early for the best available position.    Exhibition “A Revolutionary Spirit in Hanoi” Exhibition: 08 – 22 19 Jan 2015 Vietnam Fine Arts Museum 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc St., Hanoi You are invited to the special exhibition titled “A revolutionary spirit in Hanoi” which features the propaganda poster collection of Dogma Collection with nearly 70 artworks and stamps by Vietnamese artists. Dogma Collection is well-known as the organizer of the prestigious contest for Vietnamese artists: “The Dogma Prize in Self – Portraiture”. Post-rock Night with Russian and Vietnamese Bands Sat 10 Jan 2015, 8 pm ATK 73a Mai Hac De, Hanoi ATK and MOON GRAMOPHONE co-present. A dreamy January with Russian post-rock heavyweight I AM WAITING FOR YOU LAST SUMMER (sic) and local post-rock / melodic hardcore talents from PROPORTIONS. I AM WAITING FOR YOU LAST SUMMER (Russia / electronic post-rock) “Atmospheric tunes tinged by deep, building progressing guitar patches and thickened by steady industrial sounding electronics pay homage to post-rock acts such as Envy, Ireland’s God is an Astronaut and early Album Leaf.” “I AM WAITING FOR YOU LAST SUMMER was formed in Ryazan, Russia in 2011. Alex and Eugene met at a local bar examining the rig of This Will Destroy You when the band played in their town October 2010. Alex at the time played in a band called Epsilon Lyr and Eugene a guitarist of I Am Waiting For You Last Summer, both bands barely alive. And so, later on, at one of the parties at the same bar, having consumed a fair amount of whiskey, Alex came up to Eugene and asked him if he wanted to play together. Eugene agreed and the guys started writing material and rehearsing. And thus began the new incarnation of IWFYLS. Soon they invited their DJ friend Leo to their rehearsal as a listener. Soon after which he also became a member of the band, responsible for the electronic components of the music.” PROPORTIONS (Vietnam / melodic hardcore, post-rock, screamo etc) September 2014. Invited and essentially ‘commissioned’ by THE ONION CELLAR to play alongside Saigon underground-legends COCC at Hanoi Rock City, the live incarnation of PROPORTIONS appeared for the first time ever. The rest, as they say, is history. PROPORTIONS began as a studio side-project of two of the community’s most active figures, who between them have been over the years rocking out with Nuranium, Epione, Alive in Sight, Augustory – all indications that something in the vein of this new project was always bound to happen. A natural step forward. And thus PROPORTIONS benefits from some of this duo’s strongest work to date, some of their most heartfelt vocals, epic tremolo pickings, melodic harmonic riffs, wide-screened lyrics, contrasting loud-quiet dynamics: everything filtered through the finest layer of post-rock textures ever committed to recording in this country. In fact, trivial categorisations and blatant name-dropping aside (forgive us), those who cannot get enough of the intense (and at times violent) beauty of pre-Shelter Alcest, contemporary screamo and post-hardcore as well as 90s American emo and the likes, will find a lot to enjoy on the band’s self-produced-and-released debut EP Shadows, one that surprisingly, almost instantly won them considerable international support. Tickets: Advance – 80,000 VND via here Or at CAMA ATK at 18h-0h,from Wednesday to Saturday On the door – 120,000 VND     “Fire” Piano and Traditional Opera in HCM City Fri 09 Jan 2015, 8 pm Saltus Rooftop, Gem Center 08 Nguyen Binh Khiem Str, Dist 1, HCMC After the success of “Fire” at Hanoi’s Opera House, pianist Phó An My and the team continue to bring the “Fire” closer to the Ho Chi Minh city’s audience. FIRE – a combination of Tuong (Vietnamese traditional opera) with Piano. Once again, compositor Đặng Tuệ Nguyên with his outstanding talent, will join Phó An My on this celebration of creativity. Hotline for ticket 098 414 32 88 Creative Photography with Igor Burba Wed 07 Jan 2015, 8 pm Chula 6 Nhat Chieu, near Water Park, Tay Ho, Hanoi This talk brings you the opportunity to meet with renowned Moscow-based photographer Igor Burba. He will showcase some of his best works and share his experiences in creative photography. A Q&A session comes along afterwards. Language: Russian with English and Vietnamese translation. Free admission.    Seminar “Journey to Enlighten Value of Author Phan Khoi” Tue 06 Jan 2015, 2.30 pm Heritage Space Dolphin Plaza, 17 Tran Binh, My Dinh, Ha Noi You are invited to the seminar “Journey to Enlighten Value of Author Phan Khoi” with the participation of literature researcher Lai Nguyen An, moderator / literary critic Pham Xuan Nguyen, poet Le Hoai Nguyen, and other writers and researchers. Language: Vietnamese, please refer to Vietnamese version of this post for more information. A Special Engagement with Wayne Karlin – Author of “Wandering Souls, Journeys Among the Dead and Living in Vietnam” Tue 06 Jan 2015, 7.30 pm Tadioto 24B Tong Dan, Hanoi You are invited to a presentation by Wayne Karlin – author of “Wandering Souls, Journeys Among the Dead and Living in Vietnam.” Wayne Karlin served in the US Marines during the Viet Nam War and has become one of the most important literary voices coming out of the conflict — with the distinction of having a profound and active concern for all who suffered. Through his numerous novels and the anthologies he’s edited, as well as the related publications he produced for Curbstone Press, Karlin has brought to light the stories of suffering, and healing from people of all sides. “Wandering Souls” is a moving account of a veteran’s torments and his return to Viet Nam to faced the family of a soldier he killed in combat. It is interwoven with the stories of others whose lives were turned upside down by the war, and their extraordinary survival and healing. HCMC – New Year Strauss Concert Sat 10 Jan 2015, 8 pm HCMC Opera House No. 7 Lam Son Square, D.1, HCMC You are invited to the New Year’s Strauss Concert to enjoy masterpieces by the most popular waltz composers of all time – Johann Strauss, who was known as “The Waltz King” in his lifetime. PROGRAM Johann Strauss II Der Zigeunerbaron Ouverture Frederic Chopin Nocturne op.9, no.2 (one couple dance) Johann Strauss II Einzugsmarsch Edvard Grieg Solvieg’s song Soprano: Phạm Duyên Huyền Johann Strauss II Annen-Polka op.117 (2-3 couple dances) Johann Strauss II Egyptian March Johann Strauss II Voices of Spring Waltz Soprano: Võ Thụy Ngọc Tuyền Johann Strauss II Tritsch-Tratsch-Polka Johann Strauss II Pizzicato polka (2-3 couple dances) Jacques Offenbach Barcarolle , from ‘The Tales of Hoffmann’ Soprano: Phạm Khánh Ngọc Mezzo-soprano: Nguyễn Thị Thanh Huyền Johann Strauss II The Blue Danube Waltz (2-3 couple dances) Johann Strauss II Radetzky March Conductor: Le Phi Phi Soprano: Phạm Duyên Huyền, Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Tuyền, Phạm Khánh Ngọc Mezzo-soprano: Nguyễn Thị Thanh Huyền Perform: HBSO Ballet & Symphony Orchestra Tickets Ticket price: 400,000 – 350,000 – 200,000 – 80,000 VND (for students only) Booking and delivery: 08 38237419, Ms. Hương 0989874517, Mr.Luân: 0903041959 At HCMC Opera House, 7 Lam Son Square Online Booking: www.ticketbox.vn Vietnamese Folk Music Performance “Bamboo and Silk” Sat 10 Jan 2015, 8 pm L’Espace 24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội You are invited to Vietnamese folk music night “Bamboo and Silk” with ca tru, cheo, chau van and xam performances. Following the huge success of 2 performances in the famous Guimet museum, France, within the framework of Vietnam Year in France, “Bamboo and Silk” will be delivered for the first time in Hanoi at L’Espace. The concert will take the audience to a travel back in time across 10 centuries of Vietnamese culture and music. The audience will be immersed in the voice, instrument, timbre and rhythm of Vietnamese ancient melodies. Many of the songs to be performed were recorded by UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. People’s Artist Xuan Hoach – Đàn Nguyệt, Đàn Đáy Meritorious Artist Dang Cong Hung – Dan Nguyet Meritorious Artist Vu Ngoc – Drums Meritorious Artist Doan Thanh Binh – Vocal Artist Thanh Ha – Vietnamese 16-chord zither People’s Artist Thanh Hoai – Vocal Tickets Ticket price: 160 000 VND Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 80 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. Installation Exhibition “Life Portrait 5 – Inclined Shadow” Opening: Fri 09 Jan 2015, 6 pm Exhibition: 09 Jan – 24 Feb 2015 L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi What is the shadow? What does it reflect, contain and hide? The installation exhibition titled “Life Portrait 5 – Inclined Shadow” by Tran Duc Quy offers a reflection on the relationship between a subject and its shadow, their interactions, its stretch or shrinking based on the sunlight. “It is impossible to imagine how my flat black shadow transforms in the sun. Sometimes my shadow looks exactly like me and talks to me. What would happen if I became the shadow of the shadow that had become myself? How should I behave? How could I incline without falling?…” Free entrance. Installation Exhibition “Life Portrait 5 – Inclined Shadow” Opening: Fri 09 Jan 2015, 6 pm Exhibition: 09 Jan – 24 Feb 2015 L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi What is the shadow? What does it reflect, contain and hide? The installation exhibition titled “Life Portrait 5 – Inclined Shadow” by Tran Duc Quy offers a reflection on the relationship between a subject and its shadow, their interactions, its stretch or shrinking based on the sunlight. “It is impossible to imagine how my flat black shadow transforms in the sun. Sometimes my shadow looks exactly like me and talks to me. What would happen if I became the shadow of the shadow that had become myself? How should I behave? How could I incline without falling?…” Free entrance. Live Music Performance “Tôi đưa em về” 10 and 11 Jan 2015, 8 pm Heritage Space Dolphin Plaza, 17 Tran Binh, My Dinh, Ha Noi You are invited to the live music performance “Tôi đưa em về” (Take you home) on the special occasion of Gold Wedding Anniversary of composer Nguyen Anh 9. This is an exceptional opportunity for his fans to know more about Nguyen Anh 9’s untold stories as well as the woman who appeared and left memories in his life. With the performance of: Guests: Musician Nguyen Anh 9 and his wife Musician/ Singer Giang Son And professional singers including: The winner of 2012 Sao mai contest Minh Chuyen Top 8 of Sao mai contest Hoai Nam The winner of 2014 Best Voice of Hanoi Le Tam Surcharge fee (not including drinks): 300.000 VND Due to limited spaces, please pre-book tickets via: 1. Hotline : 0902826769 or email: maihang309@gmail.com 2. Online ticket: ticketbox.vn Film Screening “La Belle et Bête” Fri 09 Jan 2015, 8 pm L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi You are invited to the film screening “Beauty and the Beast” (France, 2014, 112 mins) directed by Christophe Gans. For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post. Language: French with Vietnamese subtitles. Tickets Ticket price: 40 000 VND Special price for members of L’Espace and students: 20 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. Standpoint Theories – Vietnam Edition with Lê Cát Trọng Lý HCMC: 09 – 11 Jan 2015 Cargo Bar — Tour locations: Hue, Hanoi and Da Nang and other provinces Updated soon This is a show not to miss! Standpoint Theories – Vietnam Edition featuring LÊ CÁT TRỌNG LÝ Tickets will be available from December 19, 2014. We will announce where the tickets are available to purchase and how you can get them, so stay updated by following our Facebook page. Show dates: January 9: 8.30 pm January 10: 8.30 pm January 11: 2:30 pm and 8.30 pm A collaborative international project focused on building a graphic novel of six vietnamese legendary myths by using the means of dance, Vietnamese text, live visual art/3D mapping and live electronic music fused with traditional Vietnamese music. Central location: Ho Chi Minh City Tour locations: Hue, Hanoi and Da Nang Standpoint Theories has established itself as one of a select number of productions that feature multi-disciplinary arts within the local Vietnamese and expat community. The project will be presented as an evening-length interactive dance performance inspired by six well-known Vietnamese Myths: – The legendary story of Âu Cơ, an immortal mountain fairy who married Lạc Long Quân – The god of Tản Viên Mountain known as, Sơn Tinh – Chử Đồng Tử – a marsh boy – Princess Liễu Hạnh, a heavenly spirit and Mother Goddess – Bà Chúa Xứ known as Lady of the Realm A collaboration between singer/musician Lê Cát Trọng Lý (Vietnam), dancer Emily Navarra (America), musicians Bryon Ramsey-leonard Rudd and David Moses Haimovich known as Space//Panther (America), media artist Daniel Day Long (America), illustrator Hoàng Trung (Vietnam), scenographer/animator Julien Noyer, percussionist Eric Meftah (America), bassist Gar Eth Katz (America), lighting designer Julian Hodgson (Scotland) and sound engineer Alain-Timmy Vegas (UK). Music Concert by Japanese Traditional Drum Troupe BATI – HOLIC Hanoi: Wed 07 Jan 2015, 8 pm Youth Theatre — Thanh Hoa: Fri 09 Jan 2015 Lam Son Theater Sat 10 Jan 2015 Lam Son Square The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam proudly presents a drum concert by BATI-HOLIC on Wednesday 7 January 2015 in Hanoi. BATI-HOLIC performed in Hanoi and Hue last April. Their powerful drum performances attracted a lot of audience in Vietnam. This time, they will perform in Hanoi and also in Thanh Hoa as a part of the program “Japan Cultural Day”. BATI-HOLIC formed in 2004 in Kyoto where the culture and the traditions of Japan accumulated, is Performing Arts Group in instrumentation that songs, Shinobue (Japanese flute) also mix with Wadaiko (Japanese traditional percussion). The style of BATI-HOLIC is oriented towards the novelty even while using traditional instruments, beyond the framework of traditional features. They perform more than 100 times a year at various venues like concert halls, live houses, schools, festivals in various areas, not only in Japan but also in foreign countries. Their stage fills with passion and is full of modern sense. It attracts audience regardless of generation, cultural background. The concert in Hanoi will be held at Youth Theater (11 Ngo Thi Nham, Hanoi), at 20:00 on Wednesday 7 January. Two concerts in Thanh Hoa, part of the program “Japan Cultural Day”, will take place on 9 and 10 January: Friday 9 January 2015, Lam Son Theater Saturday 10 January 2015, Lam Son Square In Hanoi: Free tickets are available from 14:00 on Friday 2 January 2015 at The Japan Foundation 27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi TEL 04 3944 7419 [Opening Hours: 09:30 – 18:00, closed on Sunday] Youth Theater 11 Ngo Thi Nham, Hanoi Meeting with Writer Nguyen Viet Ha Wed 07 Jan 2015, 6 pm L’Espace 24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội In his short stories and novels, Nguyen Viet Ha has painted the portrait of Hanoi over the past two decades. With a unique style, his novels such as Cơ hội của Chúa (An opportunity for God), Khải huyền muộn (Late Revelation) or short stories such as Con giai phố cổ (Boys from the Old quarters), Đàn bà uống rượu (When women drink alcohol), Mặt của đàn ông (Face of the man), Nhà văn thì chơi với ai (Who hang out with writers?) trace the contemporary bustle but retain some aspects of the past. Who are Hanoians? Nguyen Viet Ha has been trying to identify them in the nowadays context of cultural identity. Speaker: writer Nguyen Viet Ha, painter Le Thiet Cuong and journalist Uyen Ly Language: Vietnamese Free entrance. Film Screening “Les Vacances du Petit Nicolas” Sun 04 Jan 2015, 5 pm L’Espace 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi You are invited to the film screening “Les Vacances du Petit Nicolas” (France, 2014, 97 mins) directed by Laurent Tirard. The eponymous little French rascal is back for seconds in Les vacances du Petit Nicolas, director Laurent Tirard’s second adaptation of the French series of children’s books from the 1960s. For more information about synopsis, please see L’Espace website (in French) or refer to the Vietnamese version of this post. Language: French with Vietnamese subtitle. Tickets Ticket price: 50 000 VND Group ticket price (at least 10 people): 40 000 VND Tickets are available at L’Espace. Notes: The film screenings at L’Espace are not suitable for children under 4 years old. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult (at least 1 adult with 5 children) Sculpture Exhibition “Convergence” Opening: Sat 03 Jan 2015, 5.30 pm Exhibition: 03 – 31 Jan 2015 Heritage Space Dolphin Plaza, 17 Tran Binh, My Dinh, Ha Noi You are invited to the sculpture exhibition “Hội tụ” (Convergence) by sculptor Luong Van Viet. “Hội tụ” displays a series of huge sculptural works on metal, wood and lacquer including 3 statues titled “Door”, “Equality” and “Convergence” and 3 reliefs titled “The Beginning”, “You or Me” and “Destination”. The artworks express the artist’s thoughts on the natural laws of life as well as normal-but-hard-to-accomplish desires. Open Studio of “Bo Ho Painting” Opening: Thu 01 Jan 2015, 5 pm Exhibition: 01 – 15 Jan 2015 Kamikaze Factory 76/12 Dang Thai Mai, Hanoi You are invited to the open studio of painting series “Bo Ho Painting” by artist Le Quang Ha.    Film Screening “Groundhog Day” and “Some Like it Hot” Screening “Groundhog Day”: Fri 02 Jan 2015 Screening “Some Like It Hot”: Sat 03 Jan 2015 Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents 51 Tran Hung Dao Str (4th floor), Hanoi No New Year’s Plans? It’s time to enjoy the screening of 2 famous comedies “Groundhog Day” and “Some Like it Hot” this weekend at TPD. About film Groundhog Day Groundhog Day is a 1993 American fantasy comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott. It was written by Ramis and Danny Rubin, based on a story by Rubin. Murray plays Phil Connors, an arrogant and egocentric Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, during an assignment covering the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, finds himself in a time loop, repeating the same day again and again. After indulging in hedonism and numerous suicide attempts, he begins to re-examine his life and priorities. Some Like It Hot Some Like It Hot is a 1959 American comedy film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon. The supporting cast includes George Raft, Pat O’Brien, Joe E. Brown, Joan Shawlee and Nehemiah Persoff. In 2000, the American Film Institute listed Some Like It Hot as the greatest American comedy film of all time. Entry: 20,000 VND (donation for TPD’s fund for movie talents) VNN