Opening of ArtTech Fusion 2023 – An event series that inspires sustainable actions from the intersection of Art and Technology

23 October, 2023

From October 13 – 15, 2023, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) officially organized a series of annual international art exhibitions, conferences and seminars that integrated art and technology – ArtTech Fusion 2023 with the theme “Inspiration for People to Act on Sustainability”. The series would inspire sustainable action for the environment, education, and society through the intersection of art and technology.

Currently, we are living in a world full of challenges listed as environmental pollution, global warming, cultural issues, inequality and social stratification. In this context, art and technology are constantly evolving, expanding boundaries and creating new opportunities to solve common human problems. ArtTech is a rapidly growing field in the digital age. With the intersection of art and technology, ArtTech plays an important role in creatively solving social issues related to sustainability. Art has the ability to express subtle and complex aspects of life and the environment. Thereby, artists can convey interesting and powerful messages, raising awareness about sustainable issues such as climate change, animal protection or sustainable use of resources. The intersection of art and technology can foster creativity and innovation, encouraging the development of new products, services and solutions that address sustainability challenges. For example, virtual reality or augmented reality applications can immerse users in simulated environments to deepen their understanding of environmental and social issues. In addition, creativity in art and technology can be combined to create events, exhibitions and socially interactive experiences, thereby raising awareness and promoting community actions in support of sustainable development.

Established in 2022, ArtTech Hub, owned by University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, has officially been in operation for nearly a year and has initially achieved some positive progress, marking the beginning of the journey of intersection between art and technology at UEH,therefore, inspiring sustainable development and combining art and technology to solve the problems of modern society and comprehensively improve the quality of life.

In order to promote these values, in 2023, ArtTech Hub officially launched a series of international exhibitions, seminars and art activities integrating art and technology – ArtTech Fusion 2023 (ATF23) with the theme “Inspiration for People to Act on Sustainability”. This event took place from October 13 – 15, 2023 at 03 Campuses: A (59C Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City), B (279 Nguyen Tri Phuong, District 10, Ho Chi Minh City), V (232/6 Vo Thi Sau, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.

On the morning of October 13, the Opening Ceremony of the ATF23 series officially took place with the participation of: Prof. Dr. Su Dinh Thanh – President of UEH; Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Khac Quoc Bao – Vice President of UEH; Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet – Chairwoman of the Strategy and Policy Advisory Council; Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Thanh Trang – Vice Head of UEH College of Business; Dr. Thai Kim Phung – Vice Head of UEH College of Technology and Design; Associate Professor, Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh – Vice President of UEH College of Technology and Design, Director of ArtTech Hub with lecturers and students of UEH.

On behalf of guests, there was the attendance of: Professor. Alvaro Barbosa – Vice Rector, University of Saint Joseph; Prof. Juthamas Tangsantikul – Program Director of Commde, Chulalongkorn University; Dr. Nurul Hanim Romainoor – Universiti Sains Malaysia; MDM. Noor Azlina Mohamed Khalid – Universiti Sains Malaysia; Dr. Tetriana Ahmed Fauzi – Universiti Sains Malaysia; Mr. Hafiqzuden Zainuden – Universiti Sains Malaysia; Dr. Zuriawati Ahmad Zahari – Universiti Sains Malaysia; Ms. Nguyen Tran Thanh Thuy – Senior Marketing Manager, Mobile Experience and Samsung Ecosystem; Ms. Nguyen Hoang Nga My – Deputy Director of Talent and Culture, Sun Life Viet Company; Mr. Dong Ho – General Director of Formalia XR Studio.

Overview of the Opening Ceremony

Speaking at the opening of the event, Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh – President of UEH – stated: “In 2022, the ArtTech Fusion 2022 international activity series of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City brought practical values and spread technological and artistic knowledge to contribute to the sustainable development of society. Continuing and promoting these values, ArtTech Fusion 2023 organized by ArtTech Hub will be an activity series carried out by UEH and domestic and international partners to promote sustainable development in the community, honoring the role of humans, and aiming to improve the quality of education and enhance the quality of life, as well as reducing inequality in the fields of education, technology and society through the intersection of technology and art.”

Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh – UEH President – speaking at the opening ceremony of the event

ArtTech Fusion 2023 had the participation of 07 International Universities in the Asia-Europe region listed as Saint Joseph University (Macau), Sains University Malaysia, Yunlin National University (Taiwan), Kwangwoon University (Korea), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Xi’an Academy of Fine Arts (China), Ulsan Art Museum and Dongseo University (Korea), Patheon Institute of Technology (Italy). At the same time, it connects the community of ArtTech artists, experts, scientists, and professors, in many fields including Prof.Dr. Alvaro Barbosa – Vice President of Saint Joseph University, Macau, expert on NFT blockchain art; Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh – Former Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Chairwoman of the Peace Committee and Ho Chi Minh City Peace and Development Foundation; leaders of businesses from Samsung, Sun Life, etc., domestic and foreign visual artists: Tung Crazy Monkey, Diego Lazy, Kyurin Vien, Dustin Nguyen, Khiim Dang, Cao Hoang Long, Dong Ho to participate and share.

The ATF23 international activity series included 23 main activities:

16 Exhibitions (from October 13-15): Digital art in 3D mapping, Hologram Art, Visual Digital Art Exhibition, Global Affordable Art (NFT’s Artworks Exhibition), Photography Art, Virtual Fashion – Evoking your imagination, International Student Artworks, You & Machine, Human motion tracking, Visual Media Art, Creative VR, Mindfulness VR, Virtual Games VR, Interactive Art, etc.

Students interested in the exhibition activities within the framework of ArtTech Fusion 2023

05 International Conferences (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., October 13 & 14): Sustainable Digital Education: Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Human Creativity by Prof.Dr. Alvaro Barbosa – Vice President of Saint Joseph University, Macau; Creating customer experience: ArtTech to Improve Quality of Life by Associate Professor, Dr. Trinh Thuy Anh – Vice Head of UEH College of Technology and Design; Breaking Barriers: Inequality in Access to Technology, Education, Culture, and Environment by Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh – President of the Ho Chi Minh City Peace and Development Foundation; ArtTech – The intersection of art and technology – New potentials by Dr. Dong Su-Yi, deputy dean of UEH School of Media Design.

Workshops in the ArtTech Fusion 2023

Hologram art launch (4 pam 30- 5 pam 30, October 12).

Interactive Performance (7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., October 14): This was considered one of the most special activities of ATF23, an interactive art performance with the theme: Technology and Humanity: the Interconnection. Artists would interact and create artwork right on the performance stage. The performance program included Cultural Sustainability (Electronic music with art) performed by Prof. Alvaro Babosa, Saint Joseph University, Macau; Diverse Life (Visual art with electronic music) performed by Visual Artist Kyunri Vien and Artist Dustin Nguyen; Human Interconnection performed by visual artist Tung Crazy Monkey; Power Transformation (Realtime graphic art) performed by Visual Artists Tung Crazy Monkey and Khiim Dang. Thereby, each person would reflect and explore activities that contribute to sustainable development through specific individual and community actions.

Delegates and speakers taking some photos

ATF23 will bring a new perspective, helping to rethink the future, thereby creating the key to regenerating resources for sustainable development. ATF23 is the place of origin and inspiration that encourages each of us to participate and promote positive actions for the environment and society.

*ArtTech Fusion 2023 (ATF) takes place from October 13 – 15, 2023, at Campuses A, B, V of UEH. ArtTech Fusion 2023 includes 16 exhibitions, 5 seminars, and 1 interactive performance. ArtTech Fusion aims to apply ArtTech as a tool to solve social and professional problems through education and research to contribute to improving the quality of life. At the same time, it is an environment that encourages creative innovation and inspires art toward sustainable action.

Other images of the ATF 2023 event series taking place at UEH:

Prof.Dr. Su Dinh Thanh, representative of University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, performing the MOU exchange ceremony with representatives of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)