“Ảo Ảnh," or “Illusion," an independent exhibition by the artist duo Lê Brothers, will be running at Mơ Art Space from July 18. The Quang Binh-born, Hue-based artists — Lê Ngọc Thanh and Lê Đức Hải — first debuted this project at the Le Ba Dang Art Center in 2020. 

Hue has long been a source of inspiration for much of Ngọc Thanh and Đức Hải's work. Throughout their career, the artist duo has exhibited their works both locally and internationally, namely the Singapore Biennale in 2013, the Singapore En France Le Festival in 2015, and most recently, the “Southeast Asia Performance Collection” in 2019. 

Their unparalleled approach to history, identity, and interpretation of the past and the present is portrayed through their remarkable work. Through these projects, the Lê Brothers help the community to explore unforgettable events, raising questions, as well as appreciating their culture and customs. Besides independent art projects, the Lê Brothers founded the first artist residency in Vietnam: New Space Arts Foundation. 

The exhibition curator, Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, shared: “Ảo Ảnh is not a separate project but belongs to a series of artistic conceptual stations created by the Lê Brothers over the years on major topics like violence, history and connections, placing them in the thought realm formed by the constant collision of real life.”

The exhibition is free to view until August 15 at Mơ Art Space (136 Hàng Trống, Hoàn Kiếm, Hanoi) from 10am to 7am, Tuesday–Sunday. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, there will not be an opening reception, and only eight people are allowed at the exhibition at a time. 

[Image courtesy of Nguyễn Anh Tuấn]