NGÔ KỲ DUYÊN AKA JO - 2021
Based in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, Ngô Kỳ Duyên aka Jo is a visual artist whose work is associated with moving images, virtual reality, augmented reality, new media and code art. With a media and design background, she aims to reach more audiences in a stronger narrative form about social justice and sustainability matters with high-tech support and advocate for the creative community to go beyond the traditional mediums.
Jo is extremely active on Instagram where she is constantly releasing new exploration of digital artworks and techniques. Her installations and artworks often tie back to mental health, a topic she’s very open to speak about, and address the need for well-being and relating to one another.
In November 2020, to help bring joy to the city of Hoi An, Jo created an arts festival called CABCON. After several natural disasters and a lack of tourism due to COVID, the festival was created with the intention to “cheer up the rough situation and introduce a holistic image of contemporary art in Vietnam to people in [Hoi An].”
Jo’s AR piece for VMF Winter Arts, “Inside Out”, is something everyone can relate to as it focuses on finding beauty during this time despite the pandemic.
Artist Statement: I see the beauty, chances, and bright side during a hard time, I hope people can find joy in this mixed reality work. The experience allows the audiences to explore the photosphere which is in a form of Coronavirus but full of colorful bio-art and magical lighting contracting to the depressing pandemic.
Jo’s AR was also accompanied by a physical installation that participants could walk through. An extension of the AR experience, the gallery featured printed digital images generated with the technology of Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), a model of machine learning.
