English | Tiếng Việt

Join us on Tuesday, February 11 for an Open Studio with artist Duy Nguyen, marking the conclusion of his residency with us at A. Farm.

In his latest project, Minimal Prayer, Nguyen delves into ideas of spirituality, religion, and worship — subjects deeply tied to his personal identity. Through a series of altar-inspired sculptures crafted from ready-made objects and religious imagery, he imagines a universe where religion is prohibited, yet people continue to find ways to pray. In this speculative world, religions merge, becoming ambiguous and, at times, abstracted. 

Despite having grown up between and among multiple religions, Nguyen found himself still atheist and non-spiritual. Yet, Nguyen’s first return to Vietnam as an adult sparked an unexpected connection to spirituality, inspired by Vietnamese people’s pragmatic approach to religion through DIY means and small altars. Witnessing the adaptability of faith through his research — where old traditions intertwine with modern technology — Nguyen has developed a deeper connection to his spirituality.

This project has additional contributions by Dat Le, Nguyen Hoang Duy, Jade Tran, Alex Cardenal and Tonyavinogradova x AIID.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Duy Nguyen

December 2024 — January 2025

Duy Nguyen is a Norwegian-Vietnamese artist working between Oslo, Berlin and Ho Chi Minh City. His practice takes an asymmetrical approach, seamlessly intertwining poetry, photography, sound, video, and installation. Viewing each project as a poetic essay, he visualizes his questions and research through various mediums.

Nguyen’s work often deals with diasporic narratives and themes of multi-identity, particularly in relation to mental health. Having grown up without a fixed cultural anchor, his practice delves into contradictions — manifested through aesthetics and language. Moving between perception and reality, truth and staging, Nguyen seeks to fill voids by constructing plausible simulacra. His inspiration primarily stems from personal experiences, as well as poetry, Asian theatre, cinema, and conversations within the Asian diaspora and queer communities.

His work have been exhibited at venues such as Künstlerhaus Bethanien (Berlin, Germany), Kunstnernes Hus (Oslo, Norway), Savvy Contemporary (Berlin, Germany), Fotogalleriet (Oslo, Norway), Liquida Photofestival (Turin, Italy), Leipzig International Art Programme (Leipzig, Germany), Fotografiens Hus (Oslo, Norway), Haute Photographie (Rotterdam, Netherlands), and more. In 2024, he was awarded a two-year work grant by Arts Council Norway. Starting in July 2025, he will undertake a five-month artist residency at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, France.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday, February 11
Time: 19:00-21:00
Location: A. Farm Studios @ 6/4 Nguyen Dang Giai, Thao Dien, HCMC