VESAK | UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK 2008

In 2008, Vietnam hosted the United Nations Day of Vesak for the first time, welcoming 600 Buddhist delegations from 90 countries and territories. Within the framework of this grand celebration, Dream Studio and director Viet Tu co-produced the grand musical gala welcoming Buddhist dignitaries, monastics, and international delegates. The unique creative challenge was clear: how to translate profound Buddhist values through a contemporary theatrical language while preserving the absolute reverence of a religious ceremony.

Dream Studio opted for an approach that transcended traditional ceremonial music, expanding the program to encompass dance, performance art, visual arts, lighting, and stage design. Buddhist elements were conceptualized into symbolic imagery and movements, seamlessly integrated with core Vietnamese cultural characteristics. Consequently, the program engineered an artistic space that embodied the Buddhist ethos while showcasing the nuances of Vietnamese culture to the international community.

Within the show's structure, the performance “Hoa khai kiến Phật” (The Blossoming Lotus Revealing the Buddha), conceptualized by Venerable Thich Minh Hien and choreographed by Tan Loc, emerged as a deeply philosophical contemporary dance piece. The artwork depicted the human journey through Birth, Aging, Sickness, and Death amidst a world of suffering, culminating in the Buddha’s emergence in a radiant halo, symbolizing salvation and liberation. This was complemented by the “Lục cúng hoa đăng” (Six Offerings of Lanterns) performance and grand chanting sessions featuring 108 monks, nuns, and Buddhists, layering highly ceremonial performances within the theatrical space.

The program's musical foundation, curated by Anh Quan, was developed with a world music orientation, blending traditional ethnic instruments with contemporary arrangements by Anh Quan, Huy Tuan, Duc Tri, and Xuan Son. My Linh and Trong Tan performed a duet of “Ca mừng VESAK” (Celebrating VESAK); alongside Khanh Linh, the three artists performed “Chắp tay hoa” (Lotus Hands in Prayer), “Lạy Phật con về” (Returning to the Buddha), and “Nam mô bản sư Thích Ca Mâu Ni Phật” (Homage to Shakyamuni Buddha). Parallel to the Buddhist musical elements were meticulously selected Vietnamese cultural materials: traditional drumming by the Xuan Son troupe, the Chau Van (spiritual singing) performance of “Hương Sơn phong cảnh ca” (Huong Son Landscape Song) by People's Artist Thanh Hoai, and the traditional “Lục cúng hoa đăng” dance.

Dream Studio also left a distinct imprint on the art direction and spatial design. The stage was primarily constructed using massive screens and two colossal, stylized lotus structures adapted from Buddhist paintings by artist Dinh Cong Dat. The lighting design heavily utilized a golden color palette, establishing an atmosphere that was both deeply reverent and visually striking.

Notably, the entire execution team - from production and direction to performers, audio, lighting, and art departments - participated purely on a voluntary basis as a spiritual dedication. For Dream Studio, this was not merely an international-scale artistic production; it was a defining project that demonstrated the agency's capability to orchestrate a dialogue between contemporary theatrical language and cultural/religious heritage, allowing art to serve as a powerful conduit connecting the Buddhist spirit, Vietnamese culture, and a global audience.