Phạm Huy Thông, born in 1981, graduated from the University of Industrial Fine Arts. For many years, his works have been exhibited in Korea, the US, Malaysia, Thailand, and more. In 2008, he was selected by the Singapore Art Museum as one of over 40 representative Vietnamese artists post-renovation.

Having practiced art in Hanoi for many years, Phạm Huy Thông has absorbed the way of thinking and expressing through metaphors. His works initially capture viewers’ attention with seemingly direct messages; however, when the visual excitement subsides, viewers will have the opportunity to uncover many underlying meanings.

Sharing with Dân Việt reporters, Phạm Huy Thông said: “For many years, I have focused on creating works reflecting Vietnamese social life, considering it not only as an environment that envelops me, providing creative material but also an integral part of a constantly developing Asia and a vast, multidimensional interacting world.”

“Sorry for the Inconvenience” – a phrase commonly seen on signs at construction sites, a prevalent scene in a developing country like Vietnam, was chosen by Phạm Huy Thông as the title for this solo show. In the exhibition, the artist born in 1981 displays a group of works expressing thoughts on the urbanization which is leading to changes in landscapes and culture. New values of contemporary society emerge, and abstract valuations dominate the existence of a concept, replacing physical and practical values. For example, seemingly immutable things like real estate also change in value daily, flowing with economic investment shifts and resident migration. People may be the central figures in the paintings but also stand at the heart of a storm of change.

“This exhibition is one I want to summarize the process of more than three years working on the series ‘Ấp Ủ’. The series uses the image of constructions hidden under construction tarps to talk about stories of life and society.

Usually, at the end of each 2-3 year cycle, as mentioned above, I start thinking about how to exhibit that series. I prepared the exhibition idea from mid-last year and planned to display it at the end of the year for the right season (the season for artists to exhibit and collectors to purchase). However, for many reasons, the exhibition ended up being displayed in July 2024, becoming an out-of-season treat.

I chose to name the exhibition ‘Sorry for the Inconvenience’ because it is a phrase we often see at the entrance of construction sites, but it also carries many other meanings depending on the context. Within the framework of this article, let’s understand it as my apology for putting up an out-of-season exhibition, making the audience endure the sun heat or harsh rain to come and see. Moreover, when viewing the series, the audience may find that these are not sweet visual experiences” – artist Phạm Huy Thông shared.

The exhibition “Sorry for the Inconvenience” received positive feedback from the art-loving public. Phạm Huy Thông particularly noted the way a young couple enjoyed the exhibition: “Before leaving, they shared that they really liked my paintings, although they never thought of collecting or displaying them in their small apartment. According to them, my paintings are enjoyable to view but a bit overwhelming to display at home. I don’t understand if overwhelming here means the paintings are too large, the price is too high, or the content is too heavy for the living space.

However, the boyfriend shared that he is an architect, and my works inspire him to design future projects more harmoniously with visual arts and contemporary art. Perhaps, it’s time for the villas of the upper class and even the apartments of the middle class to shift into a new phase, having architectural language closely interacting with the language of contemporary art.”