Huynh Phuong Dong, Nguyen Thu, Quang Tho, Le Lam, Vu Giang Huong, Duong Anh, Truong Hieu
<p><strong><em>Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev</em> Why did you begin collecting these watercolors, gouaches, and ink-on-paper drawings by Vietcong artists?</strong></p> <p><em><strong>Dinh Q. Lê</strong></em> I had seen some in the museum here in Ho Chi Minh City [Saigon]. I always admired the draftsmanship and skill that they demonstrate. But I also find it fascinating that they represent these idyllic landscapes. Even when portraying people, there is no violence in them. In late 2005, Catherine de Zegher organized an exhibition on the Vietnam War at the Drawing Center [“Persistent Vestiges”] that I was invited to participate in. She decided to include a group of these drawings. So I went with Catherine to Hanoi to meet some of these artists, and that intensified my interest.</p> <p><strong>That is when you began to acquire these drawings for your own personal collection?</strong></p> <p>Yes, that is when I started to collect them. Then, over the years, I kept add ing to the initial group of drawings. I think I have around seventy now, and I might include some drawings that do not belong to me, up to about one hundred, in dOCUMENTA (13). I am borrowing some from the artists, especially in the case where the drawings are very personal to them, and they prefer not to sell them. One artist actually made a comment that it would be like selling friends. I think as the artists get older, the drawings become much more meaningful to them…</p>
Authors: Dinh Q. Lê, Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
Subject: Huynh Phuong Dong, Nguyen Thu, Quang Tho, Le Lam, Vu Giang Huong, Duong Anh, Truong Hieu
Series Editor: Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev, Chus Martínez, Bettina Funcke
Editors: Katrin Sauerländer, Cordelia Marten
Proofreader: Stefanie Drobnik, Sam Frank, Emily Votruba
Translators: Clemens Krümmel
Designer: Leftloft, Daniela Weirich
Part of: dOCUMENTA (13): 100 Notes, 100 Thoughts
ISBN: 9783775731027