Nguchonobay #2:
“ 2,999.99 REALMS” | “2,999.99 THẾ GIỚI”

June 1st - 3rd, 2023

Opening Reception: Thursday, June 1st, 6 - 8pm

Saturday, June 3rd

* Ikebana workshop | 11:00am - 4:00pm

* closing party | 6:00 - 8:00pm

“At 0.99 certain moments, suddenly countless worlds appear and are reflected briefly in the corner of the eye. “

The name of the exhibition is a misnomer of "3000 Realms'', in other words, to express the swing/shift between ideals and reality, dreams and hopes, but it can also be a sigh or a hallelujah.

(“Three thousand realms” refers to all phenomena—all things and their varied functions. The principle of three thousand realms in a single moment of life teaches that a single moment of life includes three thousand realms, and life at each moment permeates and pervades all of them.")

This exhibit exemplifies the spirit and purpose behind Sao La Collective's founding, which was to create a shared place between artist friends and the local art scene.

This visit to the United States can be seen as a follow-up to the first Nguchonobay exhibition that we and some friends were able to put on in Ho Chi Minh City years ago. (http://saolacollective.weebly.com/nguchonobay.html)

"Let bring art to the people, whether they like it or not."

Sao La is a non-profit and independent art project/ collective in Southern Vietnam, focusing on relationship among artists, community and art itself; the prevailing mindset is one that is loose, enjoyable, and unhindered by the limitations of the conventional modern arts system.

As the nature of a "space traveler", not based on a fixed location, Sao La carries two main objectives: making contemporary art accessible to the general Vietnamese public through educational programs, and nurturing Vietnam’s growing creative community. The project will serve not only as a project that organizes exhibitions, film and video screenings, workshops and lectures but also as an informal place for Vietnamese artists to experiment, challenge and develop their creative practices.

Found only in the Truong Son mountain range of Vietnam and Laos, Sao La is the name of one of the world’s rarest mammals. The word ‘sao’ on its own can signify ‘star’ or pose the questions ‘how?’ ‘what?’ or ‘why?’ ‘La’ suggests a shriek, call or shout.

(About Sao La: www.saolacollective.weebly.com )

Conversations on art and the times we live in will be sparked by the exhibition. There will be displays of paintings, artefacts, multimedia pieces, etc. The show will also include a tasting of artisanal rice wines created for the Cu Ru bar in Dalat, Vietnam.

(Cu Ru is compared to a project or even Sao La's physical manifestation. Through its physical location, we may contact with artists from Vietnam and other nations as well as meet a variety of people and hear their tales.

(Details about Cu Ru: http://saolacollective.weebly.com/cugrave-ruacute.html)

The installation's layout will be improvised specifically for The Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts' space and will include both New York City and Vietnam-inspired furnishings and accents. The show may borrow ideas from the way that the furniture and found artefacts were arranged in the Cu Ru bar. Sao La is excited to figure out how to include their perspectives of New York in the exhibit, as they are from various regions of Vietnam and the world.

The works will be intangible as audio and video, or compact in size and weight to fit in carry-on luggage.

Artworks: painting, drawing, objects, video, sound, taste, publication display.

The display in gallery space will be improvised with objects found in NYC.

Artists:

Nguchonobay #2:“ 2,999.99 REALMS” | “2,999.99 THẾ GIỚI”