Huyen Duong’s Experiment with Painting and Mechanics at Toong Nguyen Binh Khiem

From April 19 to May 10, 2026, the solo art showcase by Huyen Duong, curated by An Tran, officially opens at the Toong Nguyen Binh Khiem workspace (HCMC). Exhibiting 13 multimedia artworks, this collection is a visual dialogue on uncertainty, offering a much-needed pause for creators amidst the daily grind.

When All Things Have a Voice

Huyen Duong does not choose to depict grandiose figures. The collection directs attention to the often overlooked: a fly buzzing aimlessly, a horse standing helplessly watching a watermelon that refuses to grow, a toy car rolling relentlessly across a plaster mountain range with no way out.

The objects in the paintings simply exist in their primal nature, placed in a world that does not entirely suit them. The artist’s monologue: “A fly is a fly. A tree is a tree. I am like a fly,” carries the reflections of someone who has stopped trying to manipulate reality.

Furthermore, the “diary-like” sketches drawn with colored pencils and childhood stickers on the surfaces of tea boxes and old cardboard cartons also serve as highlights. They represent random fragments of thought—a refuge for the mind when everything around becomes overwhelming. Accepting absurdity does not make one weak; on the contrary, it helps the mind find the lightness to observe the broader picture more astutely.

The Mechanical Heartbeat of Nature

The focal point of the showcase is an installation piece titled Sơn thủy hữu tình (Charming Landscape)—an ecosystem reconstructed from seemingly disjointed elements.

Basalt red soil from the Central Highlands. Branches picked up on the sidewalks of Saigon. A red-dyed fountain flowing endlessly. The entire system is powered by motors salvaged from old electronic devices. A state of intertwining between life and machinery, between the organic and the mechanical, is vividly present.

Inspired by the feng shui philosophy of harmony between earth and water, Huyen Duong opens up a different perspective on balance: beauty does not lie in static perfection, but in the very connection and continuous flow of opposing elements.

A Pause in the Era of Measurement

Is there a paradox in placing “diaries” on tea boxes and toy cars driving aimlessly into a workspace—a place inherently designed to optimize performance?

At Toong, art does not stand on the sidelines merely for decoration; it appears with intent. The collision between pragmatic reality and Huyen Duong’s illogical world creates a pause, allowing tense minds to stop, confront the fractures directly, and find breathing room to regenerate energy.

Absurdity always exists. But as Huyen Duong and curator An Tran share: “Why don’t we live with life’s absurdity and rearrange it into the order we desire?”

EVENT INFORMATION:

• Event: Showcase “The Absurd Cycle of Everyday Events”

• Artist: Huyen Duong | Curator: An Tran

• Time: April 19 – May 10, 2026 (08:00 – 20:00 daily, except Sundays)

• Location: Toong Nguyen Binh Khiem, 11B Nguyen Binh Khiem, Saigon Ward, HCMC.

• Side Event (Art Talk): The Shift of Materials and Thoughts in Huyen Duong’s Practice (14:00 | Sunday, April 19, 2026).

• (Free Admission)

About the Artist & Curator:

• Huyen Duong (Duong Thi My Huyen): A visual artist who graduated from Tama Art University (Japan). Her practice combines traditional painting and kinetic mechanics, reflecting the uncertainty of life.

• An Tran: Holds a Master’s degree in Museum Studies and Curatorial Practices (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore). She works in curation, writing, and photography, with a special interest in randomness and cultural shifts.