Photo: Thành Trung
Năm giờ sáng, Hà Nội thức giấc
It is Five O'Clock, Hanoi Awakens | Il est cinq heures, Hanoï s'éveille
Raisin, fiberglass, silkscreen print on 15,000 mosaic pieces
110.4 × 133.2 × 109.2 inches | 280 × 338 × 277 cm
Commissioned by French Development Agency with Metis Fund
S8-Cau Giay station, Hanoi
The Metro Line No. 3 project from Nhon to Hanoi Station symbolizes the Vietnam-France relationship in sustainable urban development. Using advanced global technology, the project has regularly held a crucial position in high-level exchanges between the two governments. Together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), the project is financed by the French Government through France's Ministry of Economy and Finance and the French Development Agency (AFD). Given its special nature, AFD has funded a public site-specific artwork via the Metis Fund on the occasion of the line’s opening, collaborating with Hanoi Metropolitan Railway Management Board (MRB) and young artist Nguyễn Xuân Lam. The piece, titled It is Five O'clock, Hanoi Awakens, a gift to Hanoi, aims to enhance the public transport experience, make the space more engaging, and raise awareness about climate change in Vietnam. The artwork is designed to interact with the surroundings, reflecting the biodiversity and rich history of Station S8, Cau Giay – a unique urban intersection of historical, cultural, and social significance. Cau Giay, the gateway to the ancient capital of Thang Long, is located near Voi Phuc Temple (Kneeling Elephants Temple), one of Thang Long’s Four Sacred Temples, as well as notable structures like Thu Le Zoo and prominent universities and hospitals.
Inspired by early 20th-century Hanoi trams, this site-specific work bridges the past and present as it is displayed at the heart of S8 Station. Upon entering, viewers encounter a fossilized tram formed from over 15,000 ceramic pieces, standing at over 2.8 meters in height and stretching more than 3.5 meters wide, in a state that appears to melt away. Adorning the tram's surface is a rich botanical garden where flora and fauna from Đông Hồ and Hàng Trống folk paintings intertwine with the Voi Phuc Temple. The intricate painting technique, rendered in fine, crisscrossing strokes, takes inspiration from Toile de Jouy, an emblem of French elegance. The title, It is Five O'clock, Hanoi Awakens, alludes to the metro's operating hours, 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., and nods to Jacques Dutronc's iconic song Il est cinq heures, Paris s'éveille (It is Five O'clock, Paris Awakens), a classic of French music. While Dutronc's chanson celebrates the bustling early hours of Paris, this multimedia sculpture honors Hanoi—a city charged with energy, optimism, and vitality in the contemporary landscape.
Set atop a hexagonal pedestal, It is Five O'clock, Hanoi Awakens symbolizes not only the deep friendship between Vietnam and France in the 21st century but also evokes reflections on the relationship between people, urban spaces, and nature. Confronting today's environmental challenges, this work invites contemplations on individual responsibility and the small, practical actions each can take toward a more sustainable and brighter future.
Designed by Xuân Lam © 2025
Designed by Xuân Lam © 2025