In your opinion, what makes the memories of a space, of a city?
The landscape, the people, the weather… and another crucial factor: sound. Sound environment plays a great role in human perception of a place.
Sounds are an important heritage that without them, memories of a city could not be as vibrant as it is. However, the ideal of a smart and sustainable city often comes with noise reduction to minimum, resulting in the lack of preservation for the original sound landscape and heritage.
With sound heritage at risk of vanishing, Italian art consultant Yuri Frassi and architect – art curator Afra Rebuscini, who co-founded Officine Gặp, came up with an idea: Is it possible to design the sound landscape of a city in the same way that a physical architectural landscape is designed? Accompanying them are Marco Yanes, the founder of Hanoi Underground Movement (HUM), an Italian sound producer and DJ and Đặng Liên, a Vietnamese DJ at HUM with the desire to develop the local music scene.
Is it possible to design the sound landscape of a city in the same way that a physical architectural landscape is designed?
The project by Officine Gặp and HUM is realised in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, whose sounds are often considered “noise pollution”. To them, these two cities possess an abundantly rich sound heritage: the sizzling noise from street food stalls, the voices of children, the honking of vehicles, the clatter of metals… All these sounds tell us their own stories by bringing every moment to life.
The project outcome at VFCD 2022 will consist of a sound exhibition and zine publication, creating a multi-sensory interactive experience to tell the story of the city. The team will use audio-visual archives and website data about various locations in the city. HUM will be in charge of sounds in the urban area and give them a fresh new life. Officine Gặp will open up a conversation about the role of sounds in happiness, creativity, productivity, and social interaction; while also promote the appreciation of the uniqueness of the city we
Yuri Frassi, Afra Rebuscini, Marco Yanes and Đặng Liên
The theme of VFCD 2022 “Change: Creativity Challenge” aims at sustainable development has open up limitless development opportunities for the project between Officine Gặp and HUM. This will be a starting point for a long-term study on sounds, memories and places; exploring multi-disciplinary approach to the sustainable development of cities, as well as the preservation and promotion of its cultural identity. Any shift towards a more sustainable future must begin with an acknowledgement of the past.
Any shift towards a more sustainable future must begin with an acknowledgment of the past.
The theme of VFCD 2022 “Change: Creativity Challenge” aims at sustainable development has open up limitless development opportunities for the project between Officine Gặp and HUM. This will be a starting point for a long-term study on sounds, memories and places; exploring multi-disciplinary approach to the sustainable development of cities, as well as the preservation and promotion of its cultural identity. Any shift towards a more sustainable future must begin with an acknowledgement of the past.
Officine Gặp
Officine Gap – Yuri Frassi & Afra Rebuscini
Year of foundation: 2021
Fields of operation: Design, Creativity and Urban Development, Art for Community, Public Art.
Yuri Fassi – a consultant for cultural institutions both in Milan and London, and Afra Rebuscini – architect and art curator in London and Ho Chi Minh City founded Officine Gặp in 2021, which is aimed to be an interdisciplinary and research-led studio dedicated to working with cultural institutions, policy-makers, architects, artists, and city planners to develop and improve the cultural framework of Southeast Asian cities. Officine Gặp works at the intersection of art, architecture, economics, and social sciences supported by a broader understanding of the economic, cultural, and social context.
For Yuri Frassi, at the core of his practice and research interests lie the conciliation and encounter between three figures: artists, curators and managers in cultural and heritage management.
Afra Rebuscini’s main area of interest lies at the intersection of art, architecture, urban studies and how culture and art can shape urban life in cities, as well as on how city-makers and art practitioners can collaborate to improve the cultural and social life of cities.
Image from the public art installation “Every Second In Between” in London, a work by Afra Rebuscini and Korean artist Kyung Hwa Shon
Hanoi Underground Movement (HUM)
Year of foundation: 2017
Fields of operation: Music, Creative Education and Training
HUM is an international organisation based in Hanoi, working on the development of the underground music scene in the city as well as Asia, with its great potential due to its multicultural and diverse origins. HUM gathers a large number of Vietnamese and international artists.
Marco Yanes, an Italian producer and DJ with 20 years of experience in the music industry, founded HUM in 2017. He moved to Vietnam with the dream of creating his own space to support and enhance the local music scene by creating a community of young Vietnamese music enthusiasts at HUM. HUM supports personal projects and help anyone to fully realise his/her musical ideas and express himself/herself by offering free practice during open deck events or through free recordings.
Joining Marco Yanes is Đặng Liên, a Vietnamese DJ who works both in the fashion and underground music industry; she is the owner of Dalient and DJ at HUM.
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