Thao Nguyen Phan

Kunsthal Charlottenborg is proud to present the first solo exhibition in Scandinavia with Thao Nguyen Phan.

The internationally renowned artist intertwines mythology and folklore from her homeland’s turbulent past with current pressing issues of excessive consumption and the destruction of the earth’s resources. The intersection between the documentary and the supernatural take centre stage in this exhibition, which evokes ghostly presences, lush landscapes and unofficial narratives.

Thao Nguyen Phan’s spiritual moving image works revolve around the interaction between people, architecture and nature in Vietnam and the broader Mekong region, which has been plagued by natural as well as manmade tragedies throughout history and still to this day is characterized by the legacy of colonialism, ongoing industrialization and increasing climate change.

The exhibition in Kunsthal Charlottenborg’s north wing introduces a deep layering of audio, visual and tactile references. Through more than 100 works from the past 10 years, the exhibition will unfold the artist’s captivating imagery through poetic film installations, meticulously executed lacquer paintings, light sculptures, delicate watercolours and architectural interventions.

Thao Nguyen Phan (b. 1987, Ho Chi Minh City; lives and works in Ho Chi Minh City) has latest exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in international institutions including Pirelli HangarBicocca (2023), 59. Venice Art Biennale (2022), Tate St Ives (2022). In 2016-17, she was included among the Protegée Rolex, accompanied by Joan Jonas as a mentor, among the most recognized living artists and performers, and won the Han Nefkens Foundation – LOOP Barcelona Video Art Award 2018. In addition, she is co-founder of the Art Labor collective in Ho Chi Minh City, which explores interdisciplinary practices and develops art projects to benefit the local Vietnamese community.

The exhibition is curated by Henriette Bretton-Meyer, presented in collaboration with CPH:DOX and organised by Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan in collaboration with Kunsthal Charlottenborg.

Supported by the Augustinus Foundation, the Beckett Foundation, the Danish Arts Foundation, the Obel Family Foundation, the William Demant Foundation, the Aage & Johanne Louis-Hansen’s Foundation.

Events in connection with the exhibition:

13 March: Charlottenborg Live x Thao Nguyen Phan
16.00-17.30: Drinks in Apollo Bar, Negroni DKK 60
17.00-18.00: Artist talk with Thao Nguyen Phan (English)
18.00-20.00: Opening of the exhibition Reincarnations of Shadows
18.00-20.00: DJ Aida Mai, the bar is open

27 March: Guided tour
17.00-20.00: Free admission to Kunsthal Charlottenborg
18.00-19.00: Reincarnations of Shadows – Transforming films (Danish)

2 April: Art with your baby
10.00-13.00: Experience contemporary art in a baby-friendly pace
11.00-12.00: Introduction to Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish)

20 April: Family tour
13.00-14.00: Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish)

24 April: Guided tour
17.00-20.00: Free admission to Kunsthal Charlottenborg
19.00-19.30: Reincarnations of Shadows – Painting coming alive (Danish)

29 May: Musical performance
17.00-20.00: Free admission to Kunsthal Charlottenborg
17.30-18.30: Nguyen Thanh Thuy, The Shadows of Sound

1 June: Family tour
13.00-14.00: Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish)

4 June: Art with your baby
10.00-13.00: Experience contemporary art in a baby-friendly pace
11.00-12.00: Introduction to Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish)

12 June: Guided tour
17.00-20.00: Free admission to Kunsthal Charlottenborg
19.00-19.30: Reincarnations of Shadows – Uncasting shadows (Danish)

11 July: Introduction
18.00-18.30: Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish + English)

17 July: Introduction
18.00-18.30: Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish + English)

25 July: Introduction
18.00-18.30: Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish + English)

31 July: Introduction
18.00-18.30: Reincarnations of Shadows (Danish + English)