Vu Dan Tan Museum is committed to preserving, researching, documenting, and exhibiting the collection of works by a pioneer of contemporary Vietnamese art, Vu Dan Tan (03. 10. 1946, Hanoi – 14. 10. 2009, Hanoi), for community benefit.
Vu Dan Tan Museum, established in 2025, aims to bring the artist’s work to the public through exhibitions and educational programs and promote understanding of contemporary Vietnamese art in the wider community, including citizens of Hanoi and visitors.
The Museum was designed by the architect Hoang Le (Le Studio Architects) on the site of Vu Dan Tan’s working studio in the Long Bien district of Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The Museum houses installations, sculptures, art objects, paintings, drawings and sketches, lithographs, woodcuts, and artist books by Vu Dan Tan, as well as sound installations, musical scores, and literary writings, providing the public access to works not previously exhibited. The collection also includes an archive that discloses various aspects of Vu Dan Tan’s artistic concepts and methods. In addition, the Museum manages the art collection, assembled by the artist and his spouse, which contributes to awareness of the artistic landscape in Vietnam at the turn of the millennium, key decades for the development of contemporary art in Vietnam and the wider region.
VU DAN TAN
FOUNDATION
The Vu Dan Tan Foundation, a non-profit organization, was established with the aim of preparing the formation of the Vu Dan Tan Museum, which will disseminate Vu Dan Tan’s private art heritage to local and international communities for social, scholarly, educational, and entertainment purposes.
The Foundation was created in name in 2012, initiated by Vu Dan Tan scholar Dr. Iola Lenzi in collaboration with the artist’s widow Dr. Natalia Kraevskaia, and with the involvement of his daughter Vu Thi Nhusha. The materials of the Foundation, which are privately held by the heirs of Vu Dan Tan, encompass a substantial collection of Vu Dan Tan's works along with archival documents that are utilized for academic and research purposes. Considering the historical importance of archival documents, The Vu Dan Tan Foundation puts emphasis on their digitalization which is still in progress,
During the period of its operation, the Foundation has implemented the following:
- Organized personal exhibitions of Vu Dan Tan’s art accompanied by catalogues, collaborated with other institutions in the organization of Vu Dan Tan personal exhibitions or provided his works for group exhibitions organized by other institutions and Museums, assisted in catalogues publication.
- Participated in educational programmes (seminars, symposiums, art talks) related to Vu Dan Tan’s art and career.
- Consulted the researchers of Vietnamese contemporary art (Master and PhD students).
- Began archiving Vu Dan Tan major art series for general research purpose, and in preparation for publishing the catalogue raisonné.
- Collaborated in archiving Vu Dan Tan’s works with VCAD (Vietnam Contemporary Art Database).
Via presenting, preserving and digitizing the art and archive of Vu Dan Tan, the Foundation promotes the study of Vu Dan Tan and his contemporaries, and collaborates in researched exhibitions and publications which trigger new interpretations of the artist’s work, as well as deepening the understanding of Vietnamese contemporary art.
