Trên con đường tìm Hạnh phúc
On the way
to find Happiness
Exhibition
“Collective Motion” group exhibition, Maybank Foundation, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Supported by Maybank Foundation and Kakiseni.
In an era defined by interconnection and constant movement, Collective Motion explores how people, systems, and forces come together, moving, thinking, and creating as one.
From the flocking of birds to digital networks and cultural movements, motion emerges when individual parts act in harmony. This theme invites artists to reflect on that shared rhythm, exploring how unity and diversity coexist and how collective behaviour shapes identity, innovation, and progress.
Anchored under MFAFP 2025, Collective Motion resonates with ASEAN’s vision of a people-centred and forward-moving community under ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together. As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship, this year’s edition aligns with the region’s call for collaboration, cultural cohesion, and shared prosperity.
The key visual embodies this idea through a flow of converging strokes that suggest energy, harmony, and transformation. Each strand retains its own trajectory, yet together they form a dynamic silhouette that mirrors how distinct voices unite to create shared momentum. It serves as a visual metaphor for the exhibition’s exploration of connection, rhythm, and purpose.
Medium
Interactive Installation (Ceramic Tiles)
0.8m x 2m6 x 0.01m
2025
Artwork Note from Artist
Starting from the context of my nation, I thought about one of the most important events in Vietnamese history: 2/9/1945, when President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence, marking the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. Later, in Decree No. 50 on October 9, 1945, the national motto “Independence – Freedom – Happiness” was used for the first time alongside the country’s official name, and has remained unchanged to this day.
I considered how these aspirations resonate across Southeast Asia. The post-colonial period brought about internal conflicts, poverty, and a deep-seated desire to survive, leaving lasting marks across generations in Southeast Asia. This has led to large-scale migrations throughout the region. The pursuit of a "promised land" became a shared, unending journey across the region.
Using tiles—a familiar material in Southeast Asian homes—engraved with the words Independence and Freedom in various regional languages, the artwork becomes both a memorial of and a foundation. Each step bears traces of sacrifice, evoking the weight of history beneath our feet. The work aspires to remind us of these foundations and to offer a quiet comfort to those who have left their beloved homelands, continuing their journey in search of happiness.
*Team Credit
Ceramic Production: Nghé Atelier (Nguyen Hoang Huy)
Producer: Ches
Graphic support: Nước Trúc
Assistant: Hoan
Photo by Ches and Maybank Foundation
