Review of Publication Accompanying Truong Cong Tung's Solo Exhibition in Bangkok

A book titled 'The Disoriented Garden... A Breath of Dream' was published in 2024 by the Jim Thompson Art Center in Bangkok to accompany Truong Cong Tung's solo exhibition at that institution. The publication was compiled by artist, writer, and curator Hùng Mạnh Dương. The volume reflects the multidisciplinary nature of Truong's artistic practice, which includes video works, installations, found objects, paintings, and drawings. Written in both English and Thai, with additional references to ancient Greek, Sanskrit, and Latin, the book presents a collection of poems, myths, curatorial texts, and photographs rather than following a linear narrative. Truong, who grew up in Vietnam's Central Highlands, incorporates his deep connection to natural environments into his work, which often explores themes of ritual, regeneration, and spiritual geography. The exhibition and publication examine gardens as sites of cultural, geopolitical, and metaphysical significance. Specific artworks referenced include the video 'Dance of the insects' from 2020 and the film installation 'The lost landscape' from 2021. A notable formal element in the book is the use of bracket symbols, inspired by fragments from the ancient Greek poet Sappho, which appear throughout the text. This conceptual device is physically manifested through two holes punched through the book's pages, echoing an installation by Truong called 'Transference' that was part of the exhibition. The publication aims to offer readers alternative perspectives on existence, encouraging non-anthropocentric ways of seeing and understanding. The review was written by Aisha Traub Chan, an editorial intern at ArtAsiaPacific.