The pilot urban railway project of Hanoi city, Nhon - Hanoi station section is not only a modern public transport project, but also a symbol of cultural fusion, demonstrating the strong friendship between Vietnam and France.
The project uses French urban railway technology, the most modern in the world, and regularly holds a key position in high-level exchanges between the two governments. Funded by the French government through the Directorate General of the Treasury (DGT) and the French Development Agency (AFD), with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the project also demonstrates France's long-term commitment to Hanoi in sustainable urban development.
The work "5 a.m., Hanoi wakes up" is located at Station S8 - Cau Giay.
On the occasion of the commercial exploitation of the elevated section, the public work Five o'clock in the morning , Hanoi wakes up - Il est cinqheures, Hanoi s'éveille by artist Nguyen Xuan Lam was presented to the city of Hanoi by AFD through the Métis fund.
In collaboration with the Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board, the work is located at Station S8 - Cau Giay, the work blends history, culture and nature, creating a lively interactive space, with the desire to enhance the public transport experience and send a message of environmental protection to each passenger on the green journey.
Five o'clock in the morning, Hanoi wakes up - The title of the work recalls the classic song Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille (Five o'clock in the morning, Paris wakes up) by Jacques Dutronc, an immortal song about the bustling morning life of Paris.
Just as Paris wakes up at five o'clock, Hanoi also starts operating trains at 5:30 a.m. In that moment of transition between night and day, at Five A.m., Hanoi wakes up as a symbol connecting the past, present and future of Hanoi - a city full of energy, vitality and sustainable aspirations.
The work blends history, culture and nature, creating a vibrant interactive space.
Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee - Duong Duc Tuan said: "In the context of the world facing many environmental challenges, this work not only beautifies the City's public space but also evokes a strong message about our responsibility to nature and sustainable development.
Every detail in the work is a reminder to viewers of the close connection between urban and ecological, of the commitments to environmental protection and green development that Hanoi City has been pursuing.
On behalf of the leaders and people of the capital, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the French Government and AFD for this meaningful gift. Hopefully, the work will become a stopover, a source of inspiration for every Hanoian and international visitor, contributing to creating a vibrant, modern and sustainable capital."
Inspired by the design of Hanoi's "Leng keng" tram in the early 20th century, the work depicts a massive fossil train car made from more than 15,000 ceramic pieces, measuring more than 2.8m high and 3.5m wide in a melting state, evoking associations with the phenomenon of global warming.
The fusion of Vietnamese folk paintings and the elegant and sophisticated Toile de Jouy weaving technique of French culture has become the inspiration for artist Xuan Lam to create his works.
Interacting with Thu Le Park near S8 station, a botanical garden in Dong Ho folk paintings, Hang Trong appears vividly on the train body, blending with the landscape of Voi Phuc Temple, one of the Four Towns of Thang Long.
The fusion of Vietnamese folk paintings and the elegant and sophisticated Toile de Jouy weaving technique of French culture (a type of fabric originating from the 18th century that often depicts poetic natural scenes) has become the inspiration for artist Xuan Lam to express each meticulous stroke, with the characteristic cross-weaving technique, creating a unique feature for the Vietnamese-French folk garden.
Author Nguyen Xuan Lam shared: “ A special point and also the main challenge of the project is that I am studying abroad, so I cannot be present in Vietnam to direct the work. Fortunately, everything went smoothly thanks to the close and smooth coordination with assistants and partners at Bat Trang pottery village, through video calls and voice messages every day even though I am on the East Coast of the United States, more than 13,000 kilometers away.
From Paris to Hanoi, with the support of AFD, Hanoi Urban Railway Management Board and a construction team of 15 people, the artistic idea gradually became a reality after more than 5 months of intense work. I worked 12 hours a day for more than 2 and a half months, for the stages of ideation, research, sketching, writing proposals, making technical drawings, and creating garden motifs.
Patterns of Dong Ho and Hang Trong folk paintings on the work.
The construction team also spent 3 months from morning to night to create the garden motif. The construction team also spent 3 months from morning to night to realize the drawing, from the model making stage, then casting the mold, polishing, producing the ceramic, and installing it on site.
I have divided my garden into over 206 pieces, then the artists can use screen printing techniques and gradually transfer 100% of their drawings directly onto the clay, creating vivid mosaic pieces.
Silkscreen printing, which has a history of more than 1,000 years and has contributed to the fame of world-famous artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein, has been a bridge that has helped me shorten the geographical distance.
The most difficult stage was when I received the invitation to do the project. Although I was excited, I was also worried. I had to think a lot to make something that balanced the aesthetic elements, ensured the technique, interacted with the regional geography, history and culture of the two countries, but could still convey a message and make the viewer think.
Nguyen Xuan Lam divided his garden into more than 206 pieces, then the artisans were able to use silk-screen printing techniques to directly transfer 100% of his drawings onto clay, creating vivid mosaic pieces.
The work Five o'clock in the morning, Hanoi wakes up by artist Nguyen Xuan Lam is a unique artistic highlight, contributing to spreading a profound message about culture and creativity at the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024.
With the theme “Creative Crossroads,” this year’s festival aims to connect the past, present, and future through a variety of art and design activities. This is the fourth time the festival has been held, and each year, the scale and influence of the event has grown, attracting a large number of creatives, art lovers, and the capital’s community.
The work “5 a.m., Hanoi wakes up” by artist Nguyen Xuan Lam is a unique artistic highlight at the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024.
Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024, with three main pillars of Design, Community and Creativity, is not only a playground for new creative ideas but also a dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.
The presence of the work Five o'clock in the morning, Hanoi wakes up in the context of the festival emphasizes the role of young people in preserving and promoting national values, while encouraging the development of the capital's creative industry.
The work has contributed to promoting Hanoi's vision, not only as a national creative hub but also towards international status in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
The festival is not only held at the main exhibition spaces but also spreads the creative spirit to all heritage spaces, traditional craft villages, and streets in the heart of the capital.
This year’s event has become an opportunity for residents and visitors to feel and experience creativity in every corner of Hanoi. With the integration of art works such as Five o’clock in the morning, Hanoi wakes up, the festival brings to the public meaningful art stories, creating a bridge between generations and a source of inspiration for those who aspire to be creative and love Hanoi culture.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/nam-gio-sang-ha-noi-thuc-giac-hoi-tho-dan-gian-trong-khong-gian-do-thi-moi-ar907159.html
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