English | Tiếng Việt

“neo NGHIÊNG NGHIÊNG ” / LEANING anchor
Site-specific art
Fabric, wood, cable, 7-minute video
As part of the “Wandering Indochina” Project by Lê Phi Long
2016 – present

The video “The Leaning Anchor” captures a piece created at Long Biên Bridge, which spans the Red River in Hanoi, Vietnam. Long Biên Bridge, also known as Doumer Bridge, was named after Paul Doumer, Governor-General of Indochina (1897–1902), who initiated its construction as a symbol of French industrial power in the East and to enhance transportation capabilities. At 2,290 meters long, it was the longest bridge in the world at the time of its completion.

In 2018, Hanoi authorities debated whether to preserve or dismantle Long Biên Bridge. Preservation advocates emphasized its symbolic and historical value, while others argued for its removal due to its outdated functionality, inconvenience, and safety risks, including fatal accidents. Notably, Long Biên Bridge remains the only bridge in Vietnam with left-hand traffic, a legacy of the early years when excessive loads caused the bridge to tilt to the right. To counterbalance this, traffic was shifted to the left-hand side.

Phi Long was inspired by the concept of “anchoring” from this story of traffic rerouting on the bridge. In his work, Phi Long created “anchors” from pinewood and yellow fabric. These anchors were attached to various points on the left side of Long Biên Bridge and secured to the ground on Bãi Giữa, the sandbank of the Red River. These anchors evoke the image of hooks that question, challenge, and demand responses from the bridge’s “golden age” past, sparking discussions about the “dilemma” of its preservation in the present.

The work was exhibited at Heritage Space in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2018. This work used the material from ” Hic Domus Est Dei No. 2″

SPECIAL THANKS TO:
K.L
Heritage Space in Hanoi, Vietnam
Talking Partner: Dr. Jay Koh
Assistant Researcher : Anne Vo (Ngân)
Cameraman and Photographers: Duong Thanh Quang and the Heritage Space Team
Ben House – Thao Dinh Bui // Father Ngọc – Ka Đơn // Church St. Nicholas Cathedral in Đà Lạt