Thu Kim Vu Artist-in-Residence Talk: Journey with Lines

Frederick Hammersley Artist-in-Residence at the Vladem Contemporary Thu Kim Vu works with the intersection of line drawing, paper sculpture and light. The artist, who is based in Hanoi, Vietnam, has used travel as a major source of inspiration, shaping her works into many different directions. By using Vietnamese Zo paper, Japanese Washi paper, Chinese ink brushes and LED light to explore and modify temporary spaces, Vu combines the imaginative concept of the city with meticulous craftmanship using traditional materials. “My works reflects the relationship between myself and the surrounding environment,” she writes, “and that relationship always changed through moving, traveling, encountering new cultures, and being fascinated by architectural forms of different local landscapes.”

Thu Kim Vu’s works were mainly influenced by Japanese culture through her last four artist residencies at Kamiyama Artists in Residence program (2012), Mino Paper Art Village (2013), Sapporo Artist in Residence Program (2014) and Fukuoka Asian Art Museum (2018). Thu Kim Vu earned her B.F.A. from Hanoi University of Fine Art, Vietnam and her M.F.A from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago.