Hanoi’s bold new art exhibition captures Vietnam’s railway soul in paint
A new art exhibition in Hanoi offers a raw glimpse into Vietnam’s railway engineering world. Artist Nguyễn Giang has unveiled his debut collection, shaped by the gritty reality of a working factory. The paintings carry the marks of dust, noise, and weather—just like the environment that inspired them.
Giang spent three months living inside the Gia Lâm Railway Factory, where he created the entire series. The industrial setting became part of his process, with each piece exposed to heat, dust, and changing weather. Instead of a studio, the workshop itself served as his workspace and testing ground.
The artist used acrylic on plywood, materials chosen for their strength and ability to endure harsh conditions. His largest work measures 600cm by 240cm, a scale that echoes the factory’s imposing surroundings. The paintings don’t just depict the factory—they bear its physical traces, from water stains to earth and wear.
The exhibition is hosted at Complex 01, a repurposed industrial space now supporting sustainable urban projects. Giang’s work pays tribute to the railway workers he observed daily. Their resilience, endurance, and determination are embedded in every layer of paint.
The debut show presents more than art—it preserves the factory’s essence in paint and texture. Giang’s pieces stand as a lasting record of Vietnam’s railway workers and their environment. The exhibition remains on display at Complex 01, where the industrial past meets creative reinvention.
