YOUR NAME HERE

Artists: Propeller Group & Tyke Witness

Oragnized By San Art

January 11 – February 28, 2010

Gallery opening: January 11, 2010

In 2010, San Art will collaborate on a series of exhibitions showcasing the work of contemporary artists from Vietnam and abroad at L’usine, one of Vietnam’s first design-concept stores in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. San Art considers this collaboration a unique opportunity to provide an alternate perspective on what constitutes ‘contemporary’ art and design, aiming to work with artists in the creation of projects that utilize this unique space, which has been re-modeled to replicate the feel of a 1920s French garment factory. This inaugural show ‘Your Name Here’ showcases the work of artist collective ‘The Propeller Group’ (Saigon/LA) and Vietnamese/American artist, Tyke Witnes (LA).

THE PROPELLER GROUP

‘The Propeller Group’ is a collective composed of visual artists from Saigon and LA — namely Tuan Andrew Nguyen; Phu Nam Thuc Ha and Matt Lucero. Working as independent artists who shared the same concerns and aesthetic slants they realized one day their like-minded thinking offered the potential to create ambitious collaborative projects. They wanted to create art that everyone could understand, that would take delight in what was copied, re-modeled, removed or drawn over, reflecting on the irony of everyday life that seeks stability but is forever in a state of constant change. Drawn to television, film, video and the Internet in its ability to make information attractive and desired on a mass scale, ‘The Propeller Group’ are masters of the language of the moving image, keen to reach a larger audience that takes the presentation of art beyond the world of gallery spaces and museums. Working with local and international film, television, music and artistic producers in the realization of collaborative statements that re-define the social, cultural and political understanding of contemporary culture. Their work has not only been aired on mainstream television and international film festivals, but also in major museums and galleries abroad. Most recent projects include ‘Porcelain’ 2009 (3-part television series and video installation), Zeeuws Museum, Middelburg, The Netherlands; and ‘The Financial Crisis (Session I-V)’ 2009, a series of public service announcements created for Frieze Film 2009 (UK) and screened on the UK’s Channel 4 (both produced in collaboration with Danish art collective ‘Superflex’). www.propeller-group.com

TYKE WITNES

‘Tyke Witnes’ was born in Saigon. Raised in Toronto, Canada, spending his youth in Southern California, USA where he became familiar with subcultures such as skateboarding, graffiti and cryptozoology, Tyke’s work since the mid 1980s has continued to explore the meaning and use of public space through these media. Taking notes on the art of graffiti written on the streets, freeways and various walls of San Fernando Valley and LA; gathering local writers to publish books on the genre and creating graffiti yards for active ‘taggers’, Tyke is a member of the Los Angeles’ infamous AWR crew, as well as the NASA crew of Cerritos. He currently resides in Orange County and most recently has founded his own company project ‘EyeWitness’ that produces clothing and collectibles. From the streets of Los Angeles, USA to the gallery walls of Milan in Italy, Tyke has painted and exhibited alongside artists such as Steven Powers [a.ka. Espo], Saber, Revok and Barry McGee [a.k.a. Twist].

SAN ART

Sàn Art is an independent, artist-run exhibition space and reading room located in Ho Chi Minh City. It aims to support Vietnam’s thriving artist community by creating programs that provide exhibition space, educational events (lectures, studio visits, workshops); residency and internship opportunities and exchange programs for visiting artists/curators. Supported by grants, individual contributions and select sale of artwork, San Art dedicates itself to the international exchange and cultivation of contemporary art in Vietnam.

L’usine collaborates with San Art, Vietnam’s most active independent art space, in # shows a year, in the showcasing of local young artistic talent. Please visit for more information: www.san-art.org