The Artist

1975 Quang Binh Vietnam

Le Duc Hai is one of the twin brothers who go by the collective name “Le Brothers” and who are among the rising stars in Vietnam’s contemporary art scene. For the past decade they have been using their identities as twins to explore a single theme: The effects of a war that once split their country in two.

The brothers were born in 1975, just 27 days before the reunification of the country. They grew up in the province of Quang Binh in what was then North Vietnam and they now both live in the city of Hue, which is just 100 kilometers south of the infamous 17th Parallel that had divided Vietnam.
“We were born in the North and we live in the South. If our country isn’t united now, then who are we? It’s a big question for us. The concept of North and South Vietnam made us think a lot as artists,” said Hai, citing parallels to other countries that are or were politically split, such as Korea and Germany.

The artists have exhibited internationally, making films, performance, installation and many other creative art forms. Le Brothers were first introduced to Singapore audiences with a video work at the Singapore Biennale in 2013, and now have traveled widely internationally showing their work.

To help expand and develop the art scene in Hue, the two artists started the New Space Arts Foundation. The non-profit arts space opens its doors to residencies for artists in Vietnam and from all over the world, and is also used for exhibitions and events. To date, it has hosted over 120 events and 40 artist residencies.

This small work of lacquer is a series of portraits that Hai made essentially for fun…to experience the joy of making a simple work of art.