NHAT THUC I (ECLIPSE I) | 2002

Nhat Thuc I by artist Ha Tran stands as one of director Viet Tu’s pioneering experiments in integrating contemporary art into the architecture of a live music production in Vietnam. This project expanded the role of the stage, transforming it from a conventional musical performance space into a comprehensive multimedia artwork.

Viet Tu introduced contemporary art forms that were largely unprecedented for the Vietnamese public at the time, including Performance Art, Video Art, Installation Art, and Visual Art. Dream Studio’s approach redefined the concept of “visuals” within a live concert environment. Rather than serving as mere background illustration behind the artist, the visual elements were elevated into a parallel narrative language that interacted directly with the music.

From the outset, Dream Studio adopted a radical approach to spatial design. By stripping away all conventional backdrops, the team deliberately exposed the venue’s aging walls, exposed wiring, and technical infrastructure. Leveraging a state-of-the-art projection system - generously sponsored by Minh Duc, a pioneering equipment provider at the time - these raw structural elements were transformed into a massive, dynamic projection surface, granting the visual team absolute creative freedom. Consequently, the backstage environment, typically hidden from the audience, became an integral component of the artwork itself. In tandem, the creative team conceptualized and produced original video art, while meticulously curating and editing documentaries, archival footage, and other visual materials to establish a dialogue with each individual song. Notably, the imagery of two mating snails during the performance of “Det Tam Gai” emerged as one of the most widely debated and provocative details of the entire show.

Nhat Thuc I also pioneered new roles within the production team, formalizing disciplines such as installation-based stage design, video art curation, and performance art choreography. This marked a definitive shift from the traditional model of a solo director instructing technical crews to a multidisciplinary art production powerhouse, where various creative fields collaborated seamlessly from initial conceptualization to final execution.

Although introduced in a market that lacked comparable references and initially sparked considerable debate, the avant-garde experiments of Nhat Thuc I eventually permeated the industry, becoming fundamental elements of contemporary performance language in Vietnam. The show's resounding success also played a pivotal role in propelling Ha Tran toward her position as one of the most influential vocalists in Vietnamese music.

For Dream Studio, Nhat Thuc I represents the genesis of our core creative philosophy: empowering the stage to exist as an independent masterpiece that parallels the music, rather than merely illustrating it. This milestone serves as one of the foundational pillars shaping Dream Studio’s “Unique DNA”, driven by the visionary and pioneering creations of director Viet Tu.