Project type: Curating
April 2025
Haian Bookstore
In commemoration of the 205th anniversary of Nguyễn Du’s passing, Hải An Bookstore and Stylizestate proudly present THANH KIEU, an art-culture exhibition that explores the transformative possibilities derived from The Tale of Kiều.
This exhibition unfolds as a dynamic series of events – spanning exhibitions, talk shows, and performances – designed to encourage audience interaction, engagement, and discovery. Through this journey, The Tale of Kieu is reimagined within the ever-evolving dialogue between tradition and contemporary artistic expression.
THANH KIEU showcases the works of two emerging artists, Nguyễn Đức Tín and Đinh Duy Tôn, as they engage in a creative discourse on ideological heritage, gender roles, and cultural adaptation from past to present. Alongside the exhibition, visitors will also experience:
🎥 Documentary Film “Kim Cổ Kiều Thanh” – A cinematic exploration of Vietnam’s theatrical history through adaptations and artistic interpretations of The Tale of Kiều.
🔮 Divination & Kiều Recitation Space – A hands-on experience of traditional folk practices inspired by Nguyễn Du’s poetry.
🎶 Traditional Musical Instrument Display – A tribute to Vietnamese cultural heritage through the artistry of traditional instruments.
THANH KIEU is more than a celebration of The Tale of Kiều’s literary legacy – it is an open canvas for new artistic interpretations and contemporary creative expressions.
Artist Đinh Duy Tôn
A sculptor from Đắk Lắk and graduate of Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts, Đinh Duy Tôn works primarily with steel, inox, copper, and wood in a minimalist language. His practice is introspective, shaped by life’s fleeting moments and personal reflections.
For Thanh Kiều, he presents abstract sculptures that reinterpret motifs from The Tale of Kiều as metaphors for the human condition amid social constraints. His sculptural forms evoke the tension between identity and structure, tradition and transformation—posing existential questions through abstraction rather than figurative representation.
Artist Nguyễn Đức Tín
A painter with a background in graphic design, Nguyễn Đức Tín returned to fine arts in 2022 to explore personal narratives through layered canvas works. His paintings investigate the intersection of history, memory, and contemporary identity.
At Thanh Kiều, Tín revisits Nguyễn Dynasty aesthetics as both a visual and conceptual device to interrogate the gendered lens through which The Tale of Kiều has been historically perceived. His works reflect on the tension between personal agency and collective memory, questioning whose voices are seen and heard in the writing of history.
Special Feature – Traditional Music Installation
The exhibition includes a dedicated space to celebrate traditional Vietnamese instruments and folk music, honoring their role in evoking the emotional and cultural resonance of The Tale of Kiều. This serves both as a cultural reminder and as an immersive auditory extension of the narrative’s spirit.
We are honored to have the support of Trúc Mai Music House, Nam Kỳ Du Ký, Đờn Ca Đó Đây, and Nàng Gánh Restaurant, as well as our production and media partners Goutrends, Ampersand, Tim Creative Space, and Eo Medium Collective.