Experiment of Life and Death

      Visiting Viet Art, Yet Kieu street, Hanoi these days, visitors will immediately notice a big, dark-skinned, heavily bearded man. He is photographer My Dung.
At first look, somebody may be “shocked” by his threatening appearance, plus his heavy voice from the central region. But he is very gentle. His eyes are gentle and “professional”, too, to record interesting moments in life.
My Dung went from the central city of Da Nang to Hanoi this time to join the atmosphere of contemporary art in Hanoi and to introduce his photos and installation works. Dung, 51, has had several photo exhibitions at home and abroad.
Dung’s photos are named Hanh (conduct) – Phuc (blessing) [Hanh Phuc – happiness], Sinh (birth) – Tu (death) [Sinh Tu – life and death], On (favour) – Nghia (gratitude) [On Nghia – favour], Tien (money) – Tu (prison), and Phat (Buddhism) – Phap (law) [Phat Phap – Buddhist law], which are very meaningful and great concepts in life and in Oriental faith.
Do My Dung’s photos convey these meanings? It depends on the audience’s feelings. However, some photos have very strange angles: Light from a narrow window shines on the dark corner of a prisoner or a funeral with fishermen who are putting a coffin into a fishing boat.
The most impressive photos may be “Sinh” (birth) and “Hanh” (conduct). In “Sinh” is a crying baby with an umbilical cord. The “Hanh” photo features the smile of a bride in a wedding party where all attendants are blind people.
Between the photos entitled “Sinh” and “Tu”, My Dung has put ten glass walls, with one eye on each wall. A rope goes through “Sinh” and “Tu”, passing through eyes. Below the glass walls are glass tanks, full with words On, Nghia, Tien, Tu, Phat, Phap and others.
On the photo named “Tu”, Dung spreads out many buttons, based on the custom in the central region. A dead person will not take buttons with him.
My Dung explains that the ten glass walls symbolise the ten “doors” and values of life and the glass tank is the ocean of misery.
Above, he has hung a net with many puppets. He said it is Heaven’s Net.
An exhibition called “Corners of Quietness” is now showing at Viet Art Centre, presenting artworks by three artists: My Dung with “I ABC Look”, poet and designer Huynh Le Nhat Tan with “Existence Hyphen” (paintings and poem), and visual art artist Nguyen My Le with “My Parents” (photos and art videos).