New Zealand Contemporary Art in Hanoi: Connecting and Sharing for a Closer Future between Vietnam and New Zealand
Exhibition “That tomorrow will…” opening on August 14, 2025 as part of a series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and New Zealand (1975–2025).The event is organized by the New Zealand Embassy in collaboration with the Vietnam Women’s Museum. The program will include three artists: Christopher Ulutupu, Georgina May Young and Sorawit Songsataya, and five curators: Melanie Tangaere Baldwin, Dilohana Lekamge, Milly Mitchell-Anyon, Simon Palenski and Amy Weng. Along with the exhibition, the New Zealand – Vietnam Art Talk will also take place on September 16.
Photo source: Organization board
The works on display range from video art, handcrafted textiles to interactive sound installations, reflecting explorations of culture, memory and future. “That tomorrow will…” is both a promise of reconnection and an invitation to resonance between Aotearoa New Zealand and Vietnam through various forms of storytelling.
Artist Georgina May Young uses hand embroidery to tell the story of ancient knowledge and its ability to be preserved on the ground, emphasizing patience and depth of experience. Meanwhile, Chris Ulutupu brings a series of photos “Stranger on the Street”, recalling the first encounters between two cultures and opening up reflections on both intersections and differences. Sorawit Songsataya presents a series of cloud sculptures “Listening Device (I – X)”, inviting viewers to engage in a sonic and tactile experience that feels the rhythm of the earth, thereby blurring the boundaries between biology, geography, and ecology.
Photo source: Organization board
Mr. Tran Nhat Hoang – Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) acknowledged that this event is meaningful in the context of the relationship between the two countries having just been upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while also opening up more space for cooperation in the fields of culture, sports and tourism. He said that this is a positive first step, especially when taking place at a symbolic location in the center of Hanoi.
The exhibition and exchange activities will last until August 23, providing Hanoi’s public with the opportunity to access diverse contemporary art practices, while creating a meeting space between artists, curators and audiences from the two countries.