Intelligence Squared Danh Vo: Traces of History and The End of Empire
Nov 6, 2020
In this discussion, Margot Heller, who directs the South London Gallery, Shahidha Bari, a philosophical author from the University of the Arts London, and Tim Marlow, director of the Design Museum, dive into Danh Vo's exhibition 'Chicxulub'. They explore the intertwining of imperial narratives with personal history, addressing themes of decay, identity, and spirituality. The talk also highlights the role of nature as it relates to art, encouraging reflections on belonging and cultural memory, while examining how art can transform our perception of both history and the environment.
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Vo Danh
- Danh Vo's family fled Vietnam when he was four, eventually settling in Denmark.
- Years later, he discovered numerous gravestones in Vietnam inscribed with "Vo Danh," meaning nameless, likely war casualties.
Home and Displacement
- Danh Vo's art installations challenge traditional gallery behavior, creating a homely atmosphere.
- This evokes questions about home, displacement, and the artifice of belonging for displaced persons.
Burning Flag
- The exhibition features an American flag made of wood, gradually burned throughout the show.
- This symbolizes destruction and rebuilding, with the flag's disintegration coinciding with the US presidential election.