“Salt of the Jungle” Exhibition to commemorate Korea-Vietnam diplomatic relations

Memory of the Blind Elephant by Nguyen Phuong Linh

Salt of the Jungle Exhibition,  (open August-October) created to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Korea-Vietnam diplomatic relations, is hosted by the Korea Foundation Gallery in Seoul, focusing on the perspectives of young Korean and Vietnamese artists who shared similar historical moments and experiences. Both countries faced rapid changes in the past 30 years. On the one hand, Vietnamese artists who grew up after 1986 experienced the economic reform, Đổi mới. On the other hand, Korean artists of the same generation experienced democratic movements, social developments, and the Olympic Games.

The title, Salt of the Jungle comes from the novel written by Vietnamese writer Nguyen Huy Thiep. It refers to a flower as white as salt, which blooms only once every thirty years in the jungle.

Observing the social transformations of the past 30 years, both Korean and Vietnamese artists face mixed feelings: they suffer from the loss of nature, traditions, and myths due to rapid industrialization but are also happy about the changes that brought with them a chance to encounter different cultures.

By Alessandra Bonanomi, reporter for The AsiaN