God-tex for the Uncle
2019
Full set costume: Headwear, clothes, accessories, shoes.
Collaboration with Choy Ka Fai for Cosmic Wander project
Exhibited at CosmicWander: Expedition, Singapore Art Museum, Feb 2021
and Tanz im August, Berlin, Aug 2021
Model: Dancer Nguyễn Duy Thành
Photographer: Miên and Minh
Throughout the 600 years of Đạo Mẫu, there were many new Gods and Goddesses has ‘entered’ the religion. Thus, when will Hồ Chí Minh - the leader of the Vietnam revolution - become the definite God in
the religion?
Here, I prepare the costume for his upcoming based on his testament. In his last words, he mentioned party rectification and emphasize
national unity. Until now, Southern Vietnamese people inside and outside of Vietnam still distinguish between the Bắc Kỳ (Tonkin), and Nam Kỳ (Cochinchine). Spiritually, we seem not united yet.
If Ho Chi Minh reappears as a God, he will have the power to unite people, family, and friends. As in all his life, he had tried new ideas, and new languages; his God life would be updated with new trends and technology, therefore I use God-tex to make his costume.
More about Cosmic Wander: Expedition
Prosperity God
2021
Full set costume: Headwear, clothes, accessories, shoes.
Collaboration with Choy Ka Fai for Cosmic Wander project
Exhibited at Tanz im August, Berlin, Aug 2021
Model: Dancer Nguyễn Duy Thành
Photographer: Miên
After interviewing numerous researchers, practitioners, and costume makers of Dao Mau; from tall tales and the hand-down-sacred text collected around Hanoi and Nam Dinh (the said first place of Mother Goddess descending to Earth), prosperity is one of the most repeated stories when speaking about Lieu Hanh’s traits - The Mother, the highest God of Dao Mau.
Looking from the way mediums dress to how a temple is decorated, and how its devotees talk about their religion, wealthiness also appears to be one of the most important notions of the Mother Goddess religion.
In 2016, Đạo Mẫu is recognized as a UNESCO-listed religion, the worship practices gain popularity and has been “renovated” in many ways. Thus, we envision the latest update in costume with prosperity symbols in Vietnam, including Vietnam dong on the building of Landmark 81, Bitexco and Lotte tower, along with Vietnam Airlines’ logo as I imagine Lieu Hanh, who rules the sky, would support the most to for her devotees to expand their wealth and widespread the religion.
