A group of contemporary French and Vietnamese artists are expected to bring HCM City art lovers together at Rendezvous, an electronic music and video art exposition at the Blue Space Gallery this week.

Patrice Gaillard and Claude, a French visual arts duo calling themselves Heidi, along with Hanoi-based musician Tran Kim Ngoc will present what they call "neo-techno pop art" for the first time in Vietnam.

The artists incorporate their creative work with digital technology - electronic music, laptops, and video projections - for a live audience. Tonight's performance promises to be a festival of sound and image, mixing the voices of European and Vietnamese artists to speak a universal language.

The event has been organised in conjunction with the Blue Space Gallery by Wonderful District, a young French artistic collective that supports and promotes various forms of contemporary art in Vietnam.

Its five founding members said they believe that music and art can connect people across language or cultural barriers, regardless of colour, age, or financial status.

After years of studying music in Berlin, young Hanoi composer Tran Kim Ngoc recently began to use electronic instruments and improvisational elements in her work. She said she was pleased with the results she's achieved by mixing electro with traditional music.

Heidi has performed many times at music festivals and galleries around Europe. They are two of the foremost members of the avant-garde group of artists building a unique mix of music and image that is becoming popular in Europe and North America.

Video installations by Hoi An-based Bui Cong Khanh, Benoit Maire from France and Vietnamese-American artist Rich Streitmatter Tran will be also be on view in the Blue Space.

The highlight of the collection may well be a monumental lighting sculpture by Vietnamese-French visual artist Sandrine Llouquet, who will also be showing her new work in a show entitled Troi Oi! at the Blue Space from November 24 through December 12.

Sponsored by the French Consulate and Lufthansa, Rendezvous takes place tonight from 6-9pm.

The video art will be on display through Sunday at the Blue Space Gallery, 1A Le Thi Hong Gam Street, District 1. For more information, visit the website www.wonderfuldistrct.org.

(Source: Viet Nam News)