INTRODUCTION
ba-bau × Exutoire is a temporary collective formed for the duration of a dinner. It is composed of ba-bau—a collective of artists, curators, producers, but also a space for artist residencies, public programs, and gatherings—and Exutoire—a queer critical spatial practice working toward social, spatial, and material justice. This collective was created in response to the age and geographic requirements of Bebe Magazine’s funding sources: to be under 30 years old and based in Europe. This tactic allows us to bring forth a translocal perspective from Vietnam with an anchorage and relevance beyond the historical sites of power of the Global North.
We had met each other more than a year prior to the present collaboration, through our mutual friends and fellow architects Thục Anh and Alfie (from Sum Suê). After attending several screenings, talks, and workshops, organized at the space of ba-bau AIR in Hanoi, we quickly became friends, thanks to our common interests in critical practices, social infrastructure, and space, among other things. Ever since, we’ve been hanging out, discussing big and small things. The idea of working together had been there since day one. We’re happy that it finally happened, and that it for sure won’t be the last time.
CREDITS
CONCEPT AND PERFORMANCE: ba-bau × Exutoire (Kiều-Anh Nguyễn, Đinh Thảo Linh, Bùi Quý Sơn, Paul-Antoine Lucas)
TEXTS: Bùi Quý Sơn and Paul-Antoine Lucas / Đinh Thảo Linh
ILLUSTRATIONS: Kiều-Anh Nguyễn
VIDEO PRODUCTION: Hoa Quỳnh Cinema
DIRECTOR AND EDITORL: Cao Việt Nga
CAMERA: Đặng Quốc Anh, Hồ Hoàng Đạt
PRODUCTION ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT: Bùi Tôn Hoàng / Cao Tuấn Minh / Nguyễn Long Biên / Nguyễn Lê Đức Duy
The dinner-performance took place on August 29, 2024 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Thank you to AHA Cafe Hào Nam for kindly letting us use their space as the backstage for the performance and filming.