Australian and Vietnamese artists and “Dragon and Phoenix”.

Nhan Dan Online- Two Australian artists Philip Nizette and Jennifer Jones and two artisans from Hue city are introducing her joint installation art work named “Dragon and Phoenix” at the opening of the Hue Festival which opens tomorrow.

Following the outstanding popularity and success of the public installation art, “Two Dragons Playing with Lotus”, produced by Australian artists Philip Nizette and Jennifer Jones and a host of Vietnamese colleagues at the Hue Festival Dragons of 2006, Philip and Jennifer returned to Hue this March to again work with Vietnamese colleagues and to re-awaken the Dragon for the Hue Festival 2008. 

“Dragon & Phoenix” is planned to place on the Huong River for the 2008 Festival.

Philip said  “We really wanted to be more closely involved with this wonderful event, and for millions of people to see our work in front of the Citadel at the festival opening ceremony.”

He said that After just a few weeks, the new creatures were taking shape after a few week under the direction of the Aussies and the skilled hands of many Hue artists and artisans.   They had to pay attention to even the smallest detail from the shape of the mouth, the number of toes, each scale and every feather.

“The creatures must be perfect, to be a suitable gift from Australia to Vietnam.  Because for us, “Dragon & Phoenix” symbolise the strong friendship and continued co-operation between two great countries,” he said. 

This co-operative project, one in a year-long series of events support by the Australian and Vietnamese Governments to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and Vietnam,  has been funded with support from the Australian Government, through the Australia International Cultural Council - an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade – and the Cultural Program of the Australian Embassy in Hanoi.

Dieu Thuy