On January 31, Galerie Quynh permanently closed its original location in 65 De Tham, leaving the new downtown gallery on Dong Khoi as its sole exhibition space.
The De Tham site was first opened seven years ago and over that time served as the only prolific and internationally influential gallery located in the centre of Saigon.
Having focused on contemporary art in different mediums – painting, drawing, video installation and sculpture - it introduced and represented international and local emerging, as well as established artists including, Tiffany Chung, Truc-Anh, The Propeller Group and Tran Van Thao.
Galerie Quynh's former De Tham location.
The Cosmos and the Sea by American-based artist Christine Nguyen was the last exhibition to occupy the two-storey gallery.
In a recent statement, the owner and curator announced that they are planning to open a new space in 2016, but the location and opening date have yet to be revealed. Meanwhile, they will continue to show exhibitions at their downtown gallery and focus their presence at international art fairs. Quynh has participated at Art Stage Singapore where they presented the works of Hoang Duong Cam and in April, they will take part in Art Brussels.
Farewells are also in store for San Art’s main gallery at 3 Me Linh, which from the 3rd of February, will move its activities to the ground floor of the San Art Laboratory at 48/7 Pham Viet Chanh, just a short walk from the gallery.
The move has resulted in a new and expanded library/reading room, but it also means that the non-profit art organisation will no longer have its own designated exhibition space. The curator has stated that they will continue to organise exhibitions through partners and organisations in Saigon and hopefully in Hanoi.
A rendering of San Art's new reading room.
San Art’s diverse art and educational programme is one of the richest in town and by looking at their current collaborations and shows - The adventure of Color Wheel and Sole Imprint of a Wood-Flux - it does not seem that they are going to slow down.
Come to [what] end?, the final group exhibition by the artists in residence at the 5th San Art Laboratory, will be the last show taking place at the Me Linh location.
