ART GALLERY
The exhibition is open from April 9, 2025, to the end of September 20, 2025, at Regent Phu Quoc Gallery.
Art Exhibition “Pursuing Fantasia”
“Phu Quoc”, the pearl island with the pristine beauty of nature harmonizing with the imprint of works created by human hands and enthusiasm, is the destination of discovery journeys. Not only does it offer scenic experiences, but this land is also a place for imagination to soar, opening doors to a world beyond the ordinary. The current art exhibition at Regent Phu Quoc, “Pursuing Fantasia”, originates from the idea of a journey – not only in tangible space but also into the infinite realm of imagination. There, each step does not simply exist amidst the scenery but is a transition between layers of ideas, emotional states, and states of consciousness. The “enchanted island” in the name implies a direction towards Phu Quoc, known for its marvelous natural beauty and rich experiences, while “journey” is not just a physical trip but also an inner exploration – where the world of beauty and the surreal intertwine in personal experience. Inspired by the very landscape of the pearl island – where natural and human elements together create a vibrant picture – the exhibition takes viewers into a fictional space, where visual art becomes a means to open up new horizons. “Pursuing Fantasia” is not an act of escaping reality, but an amplification of it: when imagination reaches its limit, the impossible can take shape. Each artwork is a door leading into a different dimension, where the mind is freed from ordinary constraints. Fine art, in this exhibition, is not just a means of reflecting life but also a bridge for people to step into the realm of dreams. The visual experience does not stop at contemplation but is also a process of transforming consciousness. As viewers delve deeper into the exhibition space, they also enter a dialogue with themselves – between the real and the virtual, between the familiar and the strange. This is not just a journey through existing landscapes but also a voyage into the depths of thought and emotion. This exhibition brings a unique dialogue between the sculpture of Lamphong Studio and the painting of Nguyen Minh Quan, where flat art and spatial art blend in the same breath of fantasy. The fascinating creatures of Lamphong Studio – completed with sophisticated lacquer techniques – are not just surreal creations but also carry the breath of nature and human consciousness. They thrive amidst the colors of flowers, amidst the fragile silk wings of Nguyen Minh Quân, as if seeking a refuge in the flow of impermanence. Besides, Nguyen Minh Quân’s petals, with their fleeting beauty and shimmering light, become a pedestal for the world of exotic animals. When flowers bloom, they not only symbolize fleeting beauty but also open up space for Lamphong Studio’s mascots to take flight in the imagination. Here, exotic flowers and animals are not opposed but complement each other – one side is color and fragrance, the other is shape, together creating a poetic universe, where the boundary between reality and dreams becomes more fragile than ever. This combination creates a seamless curatorial flow, leading viewers into a world that is both vivid and filled with contemplative qualities – where beauty is not just for viewing but also invites deep contemplations about birth and decay, about the finite and infinite of creativity. Each viewer coming to the exhibition not only brings their eyes but also their own unique thoughts. One person may see in these works the resurgence of life, another may see the gradual fading of memories, of distant dreams. And so, “Pursuing Fantasia” is not just an art exhibition but also a sea voyage to a fascinating island region, where the landscape is not just mountains, sea, or green forests, but is also created by imagination and the endless flows of human emotion.
LAMPHONG STUDIO Lamphong Studio, founded in 2015 by painter Lê Huy and his collaborators, operates as an open studio, creating handcrafted designs that combine traditional materials, bringing a new breath to craft village art. Lamphong Studio’s works are inspired by ancient fine arts, folk patterns, and motifs, but are not simply a reproduction of the past. They tell contemporary stories, reflecting the transformation of life through the form of fascinating creatures. In this exhibition, the sculpted animals, completed with Vietnamese lacquer, are not only the embodiment of imaginary mascots but also symbolize the germination of dreams. These creations carry a naive, fresh spirit, taking viewers to a world that is both familiar and surreal, where imagination and emotions can freely soar. PARTICIPATING ARTISTS
NGUYEN MINH QUAN Nguyen Minh Quan (born 1989), a graduate of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts, is an artist who contemplates the existence of beauty in the fragile moment between birth and death. He perceives flowers as a symbol of intense human emotions – brilliant, passionate, yet fleeting. Each silk painting, each work on his paper, is an effort to preserve that moment, to conserve the brilliance of Bong Lai before the cycle of time fades. Nguyen Minh Quân’s works in this exhibition take viewers into a space rich in contemplation, where beauty is not only admired but also prompts questions about its finiteness. When the petals fall, blending into nothingness, they evoke the smallness of humans before the endless flow of time. From thinking about flowers to contemplating the “Tao,” his art opens a world where life transforms into the form of flowers and leaves, preserving an eternal moment between opposites – light and dark, gathering and dispersing.
EXHIBITION CURATOR
CHUKIM | ARCHITECT, ART RESEARCHER ChuKim is an architect who graduated from Hanoi University of Architecture. As an independent reszearcher, he authored a trilogy of essays on comics in Vietnam. These essays were initially published on the Zzz Review blog and the author’s personal blog in 2020 and 2021. He contributed to the project “My Vietnam,” a collaboration between the Goethe Institute in Vietnam and the non-profit literary forum Zzz Review in 2022. In addition to his research, he is also a writer of short stories, poems, and essays. ChuKim has conducted workshops such as “The Art of Comics, Approach and Practice from a Content Perspective - TT01” at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City in November 2022, and talks such as “Discussing Comics, Comics as a Mainstream Art - TT201” at Hanoi University of Architecture in May 2023. He curated and organized the exhibition “From Doraemon to Doraemon, 30 Years of the Robot Cat in Vietnam” in September 2024 in Hanoi.”
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REGENT PHU QUOC
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