artLIVE – On December 6, the special exhibition and educational talk ‘Spectrum of Silence’ was officially introduced to the public, opening a meaningful space for dialogue among artists, experts, families, and the wider community about the soundless inner world of children on the autism spectrum.
Five hands coming together to open the inner world of ‘Spectrum of Silence’
“Spectrum of Silence” is an art and education project that brings together five artists including photographer Hai Thanh, Tang Tang, Hai O, photojournalist Thanh Hue, and sculptor Lap Phuong.
Hai Thanh is an independent photographer with many years of experience in documentary and street photography. He graduated in Graphic Design from Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts in 1996. Through a refined and observant lens, he captures everyday life and transforms fleeting moments into authentic visual stories of Vietnamese people.
Tang Tang, whose real name is Nguyen Tang Huy Bao, stands out for his highly creative photographic language. His quiet temperament combined with sharp intuition allows him to reach deep emotional layers of his subjects, creating images with a distinct aesthetic and strong inner depth.
Hai O focuses on social documentary photography with particular attention to coastal life in Central Vietnam. He is the founder of LADI Record and a co-founder of the dede Photos collective. His projects present realistic perspectives on family, community, and living environments, and have been showcased at Goerlitz Museum in Germany, the Da Nang Museum of Fine Arts, and RABA Studio in Tokyo, Japan.
Thanh Hue is an independent photojournalist based in Ho Chi Minh City. She concentrates on human centered stories, especially portraits captured within the intimate personal spaces of her subjects.
Lap Phuong is a contemporary sculptor who graduated in Monumental Sculpture from Hanoi Architectural University. With a minimalist approach, she works primarily with steel and glass to expand reflections on freedom, identity, and the self. She has participated in numerous exhibitions both in Vietnam and across the region.
‘You Have the Right to Be Special’ as seen through ‘Spectrum of Silence’
“Spectrum of Silence” was conceived as a bridge between art and education, using visual language to address gaps in public awareness and to foster empathy and respect for people on the autism spectrum.
In modern society, autism spectrum disorder has gained increasing attention. However, prejudice and gaps in understanding and empathy still exist. Many stories remain unheard, emotions remain hidden, and the distinctive inner worlds of autistic individuals have yet to be fully acknowledged.
For this reason, photography becomes a medium that allows viewers to come closer to the children as individuals who have the right to be special. A distant gaze does not signal withdrawal, but rather opens a door to an inner journey that moves at its own pace.
Here, photography and sculpture become a visual language. Light can transform into sound, sound into form, and emotions into color. The eyes open like windows of the soul, allowing us to hear with our eyes and to touch the silent world of people on the autism spectrum.
From this emotional flow, each artist contributes a distinct tone, making the lives of the children appear more vivid and multifaceted. Tang Tang evokes fragile emotions through deeply layered portraits, while Hai Thanh and Thanh Hue accompany everyday rhythms, documenting persistence, quiet resilience, and gentle strength throughout the children’s journeys in special education and social interaction.
At the same time, Hai O adopts an abstract visual language to reflect sensory overload, isolation, and the purity experienced by autistic children. Concluding this narrative is the sculptural work of Lap Phuong, especially “Spectrum of Silence”, where viewers can sense the tension of form, the rhythm of materials, and the empty spaces that hold the children’s subtle echoes. Although no sound is produced, the work resonates powerfully on an emotional level.
Each photograph and sculptural form in Spectrum of Silence weaves a narrative of opening and closing, guiding viewers to confront their own perceptions of humanity. Human beings cannot be defined by a single standard. Each individual operates as a unique system of expression and meaning.
The exhibition conveys a simple message. Understanding people with autism is not about correcting them to resemble the majority. It is about opening our hearts, expanding our perspectives, and honoring neurodiversity as an essential part of human existence.
The special right of people on the autism spectrum does not lie in privilege. It lies in the right to be seen, to be heard, and to be respected as unique individuals, each with a rich and deeply personal sensory world.
The exhibition “Spectrum of Silence” is open to the public from now until December 14, 2025, at An Fine Arts Gallery, 159 Dong Khoi Street, Saigon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.
Photos: Organizing Committee
