Taiwan-based Japanese curator Nobuo Takamori (高森信男) and Vietnamese curator Nguyen Nhu Huy were invited to jointly plan the "Out of Range" project, which was held in Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam from Nov. 19 through Dec. 1.
"Out of Range," a contemporary art workshop project promoting understanding and dialogue between Taiwan and Vietnam, was specially organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Cultural Division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Thailand to strengthen artistic exchanges among Taiwan and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.
For two weeks, Taiwanese and Vietnamese artists gathered in Dalat to participate in presentations, seminars, social sculptures, and spontaneous live performances, and visit local people and sites. Then they all gathered together for a closing event in Ho Chi Minh City to present their experiences in various art forms, like poetry readings, talks, and presentations, in addition to a pop-up exhibition of their own works.
Dalat's year-round temperate weather stands in contrast to Vietnam's otherwise tropical climate, becoming a new favorite tourist attraction for both local Vietnamese and international tourists. In recent years, due to its pleasant climate and lower cost of living, Dalat is gradually replacing Ho Chi Minh City to become the chosen setting for gatherings of the country's contemporary artists and artisans.
Taiwanese artists participating in the workshop included Lo Shi-tung (羅仕東), Tai Han-hong (戴瀚泓), Lin Shu-kai (林書楷), and Chuang Tong-chiao (莊東橋). Vietnamese artists included Nguyễn Trần Ưu Đàm, Lê Giang, and Nguyễn Văn Đủ.
This "Out of Range" workshop gave Taiwanese and Vietnamese artists a chance to abandon their preconceptions about artistic creations and discuss the possibility of co-creating with a more open mind and heart. It also provided an opportunity for Taiwanese artists to share their works with the local Vietnamese art community.
Speakers from Taiwan, France, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom contributed to the lectures and presentations held during the two-week workshop. The series of activities with different themes and topics were well-received by attendees in both Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City.