English | Tiếng Việt

“Hic Domus Est Dei” was performed on Bảo Đại Mountain near Tuyền Lâm Lake in Đà Lạt, Vietnam. This performance was part of the “Wandering in Indochina” Project, initiated in 2016. The work addresses the historical formation of Đà Lạt in the early 20th century, when the French colonial government developed Đà Lạt as a resort city of Catholic significance, aspiring to establish it as the capital of French Indochina.

This work reveals that, at the time of research (2016–2020), the above-mentioned historical references were reiterated by the incumbent government and manifested in the city’s architectural planning and the religious lifestyle of the local population.

The materials used in the work include pinewood, reclaimed wood from old houses, yellow fabric, chalk, and lime. The installation is located on the mountain, next to Bảo Đại Waterfall in Đà Lạt city. It reimagines the tower of St. Nicolas Cathedral (the main cathedral of Đà Lạt, built in 1932 by French missionaries).

“Hic Domus Est Dei” means “This is the House of God” in Latin, a phrase commonly found on the main entrances of Catholic chapels. I used it as the central message placed at the entrance of the church’s symbolic representation. I intended for the sculptural structure to evoke a stern Christian God, imbuing the silent timber with the energy of the divine.

Based on discussions with local intellectuals and two years of research in Đà Lạt, I continued exploring the changes in the identity of indigenous people and their adaptations to contemporary life.

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
K.L
Vincom Center for Contemporary Art (VCCA) Team
Curator: Mizuki Endo
Technical Assistants: Bind Lê (Thịnh), Lê Kim Liên, Na Lê
Assistant Researcher : Anne Vo (Ngân)
Cameraman and Photographers: Duc Be and VCCA Team
Film Editor: Đặng Hoàng Nam
Ben House – Thao Dinh Bui // Father Ngọc – Ka Đơn // Church St. Nicholas Cathedral in Đà Lạt