“Thủy Ba” Installation
A striking element of “Thủy Ba” lies in its seemingly simple material: fabric. Closely tied to everyday life and linked with femininity and softness, fabric — in the hands of art — transforms into a visual wave imbued with motion and emotion.
Crafted from 560 meters of hand-cut fabric with flowing, dynamic contours, “Thủy Ba” is a symbolic art installation presented at the Quang San Art Museum to celebrate the New Year 2025.
The inspiration emerged from the neighboring Saigon River — where waves constantly ripple and roll — prompting the D0NE experience team to shape a soft, undulating current within the museum’s exhibition space. In Sino-Vietnamese, “thuỷ” means water, and “ba” means wave; but “thủy ba” is more than a simple ripple. It has long been a symbol of life, perpetual circulation, adaptability, and resilience in the face of adversity.
Unlike traditional “thủy ba” motifs found in ceramics, bronze drums, or pagoda architecture — typically static and ornamental — this version uses fabric to convey vitality: each hand-cut piece is different, forming an irregular flow that mimics life’s ever-changing currents.
In this sense, “Thủy Ba” both recalls cultural memory and opens up a new realm for reinterpreting traditional symbolism in a contemporary form.
It also serves as an inviting gesture to the new year — the first wave of spring, gentle yet persistent — bringing fresh energy to the spirit of the season from within the Quang San Art Museum. As visitors walk through the flowing fabric, they are immersed in a living current of color, motion, and memory — a reminder that tradition can evolve, and that even the softest materials can carry profound messages. “Thủy Ba” invites us not only to admire, but to reflect, to feel, and to welcome a year full of new beginnings with a sense of grace, continuity, and hope.
The installation will be on display through March 30, 2025.
