BUI CONG KHANH

Bui Cong Khanh’s work explores historical and contemporary issues in Vietnam. As one of the first local artist to gain international recognition during the 1990s, Khanh embraces painting and sculpture to express his fascination with the complex history of Vietnam. More recently, his works, such as the blue and white porcelain vases and the portrait of himself and Buddha, are reflective of the dichotomy of his fast changing nation.

The artist examines how cocoa, just like coffee and rubber plants, is linked to the colonial history and to the movements for independence in the region.

In collaboration with a Vietnamese chocolate maker, Khanh will create chocolate medals that associate the idea of war and violence with the sweetness of the cocoa.