Vietnam - case study 3 越南 - 個案研究 3

Invented by the artist, Âm Sáng literally means ‘yin light’ that suggests a female and spiritual world. Excerpting from the project two artworks: Tóc and Chân dung Hồ Nguyệt, the artist aims to focus on the condensation of femininity that dimly mirrors the patriarchal society. Referred to two renowned actresses playing lifelong prominent roles in Vietnamese traditional operas, the artworks reveal a double reality: a reality of life, and a reality of theatre. 

Tóc means ‘hair’ is an invisible artwork narrating an unsuccessful journey of the artist in searching for the legendary long hair of the traditional opera actress – Thuý Ngần who devoted her life to chèo, a Vietnamese traditional opera, by keeping her hair long for her life opera Kim Nham. The opera story is about a woman named Xuý Vân, who pretends to be insane so she can be freed from her marriage to be with the man she loves. However, her lover abandons her after their plan succeeded, which led Xuý Vân to a real insaneness.