Papier-mâché Mask (Otherwise) 2024

The artist Đinh Công Đạt, who was responsible for creating over 150 masks made from papier-mâché, traditional lacquer, and ceramic for the exhibition Mặt Khác (Otherwise) (held on September 13th at the Quảng Đông Guild), collaborated with his two close friends, Lê Thiết Cương and Nguyễn Việt Hà, to present a unique artistic project. After thirty years of close friendship, they decided to join forces to convey a message about Hanoi through three distinct disciplines: painting, literature, and sculpture. Đinh Công Đạt personally crafted the masks, which would then be painted by Lê Thiết Cương and inscribed with writings by Nguyễn Việt Hà, all with the goal of reimagining the cultural, historical, and human essence of Hanoi.

The trio of artists, each with their own distinctive style, represented Hanoi through three types of masks: Nguyễn Việt Hà’s “Face of the Street,” featuring philosophical musings on life surrounding the streets; Lê Thiết Cương’s “Face of the Temple,” with Buddhist sutras inscribed on the mask; and Đinh Công Đạt’s “Face of the Market,” reflecting his childhood memories of Đồng Xuân Market. They believe that the key to the success of the project lies in the synergy between their differing personalities, as each one "endures and indulges" the other.

Though each of them holds a unique perspective, they all share a deep love for Hanoi and a desire to honor the beauty of the city through these meaningful masks.