Topic: The art of Danh Vo [memory]

[SM1701 independent research]

Name: Paul Isaac Cheung

Student number: 58636300

“Forgiving those who hurt you is a gift you give them...

Forgetting them is a gift you give yourself...”

"... is this weird dialogue that keeps on returning to me, the best works changes with me and that's very few works that manage to do that..." Danh Vo said in his interview from the documentary show "Brilliant Ideas Ep. 66".

The Danish-Vietnamese artist practice consists of a recourse to fragments, samples, gaps, relics, and assemblage, and primarily showcase his works based on his personal experience especially about the history and political themes relating to Vietam. But most importantly, it deals with the subject of - memory.

Gustav's Wing, 2013 https://lesoeuvres.pinaultcollection.com/en/artwork/gustavs-wing

[An artwork that I am particularly drawn into... ]

[One of the fragments of his nephew's body] https://lesoeuvres.pinaultcollection.com/en/artwork/gustavs-wing

Danh Vo had many different works consisting not only of sculptures which he is known for, but also photography, paintings and other installations, they all prioritise IDENTITY, HISTORY and THE FRAGILITY OF ART through the complexities of cultural heritage. This bronze sculpture represents a profound exploration of the theme related to the above keys of cultural heritage, it is a sort of disturbing portrait of an eleven-year-old boy which is his nephew, and it is cast of six fragments of his nephew's body. And I noticed the double-jointed shoulder blade which he calls "wing", also features a replica of a wing from the famous sculpture "The Winged Victory of Samothrace."

Photo: Danh Vo https://borcheditions.com/product/untitled-self-portrait-as-carrie-dav-15-001-1/

Danh Vo often reflects on his own experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant and the broader themes of scattering and belonging. This work prompts viewers to shape our understanding of identity through cultural artefacts.

On history side, "this artwork has political dimension relating to the division of the body." (Pinault Collection . 2016) Danh Vo critiques colonial histories by referencing Western arts, highlighting impact of colonialism on identity and heritage since they often dominate art history. " Gustav's Wing " invites audiences to reconsider the narratives surrounding historical artworks. It challenges the notion of a singular, authoritative history and opens up dialogue about multiple perspectives and narratives shaped by colonial experiences.

The artwork serves as a bridge between personal narratives and collective histories, inviting audiences to engage with their own stories while recognizing the shared experiences of others.

Which invites... meomory.

It got me thinking that, for my future work, I could explore not just the market or trends, but also look back at my own life experiences through an artist's lens. Not all design products need to focus solely on trends and the formulas of UX to create the best user experience; they can also encourage reflection on the products themselves.