The exhibition Gió Lụa Trùng Dương (Silk and Ocean Winds) draws inspiration from the Silk Road — a vital trade network stretching from Asia to distant lands across the world.

The concept of the “Silk Road” was first introduced in 1877 by German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen to describe the trade routes between Han Dynasty China and the Roman Empire. However, the Silk Road was never a single road. It was a complex web of overland and maritime trade routes that spanned multiple continents, flourishing from the 2nd century BCE to the 15th century CE. The Maritime Silk Road in particular played a crucial role in linking Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Arabia, Africa, and Europe.

Along these routes, not only were luxury goods exchanged, but also ideas, religions, ecosystems, and cultures that transcended borders. Quang deLam transforms these historical layers into reflections on existence, curiosity, and imagination. Through multimedia and photographic practices, he constructs fragments based on archival sources, documentaries, painterly gestures, and graffiti. His works go beyond illustrating history — they refract it, creating a “cabinet of curiosities” for our turbulent times.

Much like the Wunderkammer of early modern Europe, Quang deLam’s narratives invite us to question the propositions of both the past and the present.