Vietnamese artist Dinh Q. Le's first solo exhibition in Japan, "Dinh Q. Le: Memories for Tomorrow," will be held at the Mori Art Museum from July 25th to October 12th. Born in Ha Tien, Vietnam, near the border, in 1968, Le moved to the United States with his family at the age of 10 to escape the Pol Pot invasion. He subsequently studied photography and media art at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the School of Visual Arts in New York. He has held solo exhibitions at venues such as the Sherman Foundation for Contemporary Art and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, earning him international acclaim. The exhibition will feature his "Photo Weaving" series, inspired by traditional Vietnamese mat weaving, which made him famous. Dissected photographs of scenes from the Vietnam War, Cambodian ruins, the Pol Pot genocide, and Hollywood movies are woven into tapestries, evoking different impressions depending on the viewing angle and position. Also on display will be "Farmers and Helicopters," a video installation combining a three-screen video and a handmade helicopter. This work focuses on a Vietnamese man attempting to develop his own helicopter, skillfully portraying the complex relationship between Vietnam and the helicopter, a symbol of war. Other works, such as "Wounded Genes," which focuses on conjoined twins and suggests a connection to the defoliants sprayed by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War, dynamically portray a variety of real-life experiences based on meticulous research and interviews. Unearthing previously untold stories of nameless ordinary people, he uniquely portrays the pain and loss of overlooked people. The exhibition will also feature lectures and sessions on topics such as "The Vietnam War as Seen Through Photojournalistic Photographs," "The Impact of the Vietnam War on Japanese Society and U.S.-Japan Relations," "Vietnam's Contemporary Art Scene Today," and "Vietnam's Appeal as a Business Market."
[Event Information]
Dinh Q. Le: Memories for Tomorrow
Venue: Mori Art Museum
Address: 53F, Roppongi Hills Mori Tower, 6-10-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Dates: July 25th to October 12th
Hours: 10:00 to 22:00 (until 17:00 on Tuesdays except September 22nd)
Admission: Adults 1,800 yen, High school and university students 1,200 yen, 4- to junior high school students 600 yen, 65 and over 1,500 yen