Photo: Thành Trung

The Utopia

Oil on lacquer engraving
35,5 x 47 x 3,6 inches | 90 × 120 × 9 cm

First Place, XVI Edition "Giornata del Contemporaneo"
Collection of the Embassy of Italy in Vietnam
2020

Inspired by viral videos of wild animals—swans, dolphins, and fish—returning to the Venice canals during the Covid-19 lockdown, this artwork reflects on the complex relationship between humans and nature. Imagining a utopian garden based on the "Tree of Life" concept, the piece envisions a harmonious world where endangered flora and fauna can thrive without human interference.

The triptych's design draws from the altarpieces (Pala d'altare) of 13th-century Italy, constructed using traditional Vietnamese lacquer engraving techniques. By incorporating emblematic plants and animals from both Italy and Vietnam—such as the strawberry tree (Arbutus unedo), Apennine wolf, trúc (Phyllostachys), Buddhist pine, saola, Sarus crane, and other archival flora from art history—the artwork celebrates the rich biodiversity of these two regions. The three panels become a fertile ground for reflection on ecological interconnectedness, meditating between preservation and coexistence.

Designed by Xuân Lam © 2025

Designed by Xuân Lam © 2025