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Trung Bảo Nguyễn is a multidisciplinary Vietnamese artist and leading vocal experimentalist. He is also the founder of Fustic.Studio, an acclaimed Hanoi-based creative studio. At the heart of his artistic endeavors lies the innovative Voice Gems project - a bespoke generative system that harnesses the distinctive qualities of the human voice to create digital gemstones and physical sculptures of unparalleled uniqueness. Trung Bao's work resides at the dynamic crossroads of technology and art, where sound intertwines with imagery.
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Trung Bao possesses an extraordinary vocal range, pushing the boundaries of human vocal expression. He achieved a significant milestone as the first Vietnamese participant, winner, and esteemed jury member in prominent international vocal experimentation events. Collecting and assimilating vocal techniques from diverse cultures worldwide, Trung Bao has cultivated a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Inspired by his native Vietnamese language, he has developed distinct sounds and techniques that have gained wide recognition and are frequently performed in the realm of vocal experimentation. Notably, his mastery of oral percussion and captivating performances have garnered a substantial online following, surpassing 80 million views, solidifying his position as a pioneering figure in the realm of experimental vocalism.

In 2018, Trung Bao collaborated with acclaimed world-music guitarist Nguyen Le, Vietnamese traditional multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Ngo Hong Quang to create the groundbreaking "Overseas" concert. This unique musical experience blended Vietnamese traditions with jazz, rock, hip-hop, reggae, and electronica. It premiered at the Musée des Confluences in Lyon, France, and later wowed audiences in Berlin, Germany, and Vietnam's top venues. Trung Bao and Ngo Hong Quang also collaborated on "Nam Nhi," a remarkable fusion of Quan Họ music, classical strings, and hip-hop elements, showcasing Trung Bao's vocal percussion.

Drawing upon his lifelong fascination with the human voice, Trung Bao embarked on a journey to delve into its creative potential through technology and design. Notably, he partnered with UK contemporary artist Reeps100 to conceive a remarkable 200,000-particle system that utilizes the distinctive vocal characteristics of individuals to generate digital gemstones and physical sculptures. This ambitious undertaking seeks to explore how to hold a voice and turn it from a smoke-like state into something tangible that can be digitally preserved for the next millennium. Together with Reeps100, Trung Bao curated the 1000-Year VOICE GEMS ARCHIVE, amassing Earth's most unique, remarkable, and vulnerable voices. Voice Gems highlighted contributors from 2022 - 2023 include Ai Wei Wei, Dr. Jane Goodall, Sir Geoff Hurst, Herbert W. Franke, Sadhguru, Felipe Pantone, Sougwen Chung, Reggie Watts, Kenny Schachter. The Archive encompasses vocal phenomena, extending its scope to include AI synthetic voices, the voices of critically endangered species, and institutional collaborations with esteemed entities such as The World Economic Forum for the Messages of Hope exhibition premiered at Davos 2022, Koenig Gallery, Francisco Carolinum Linz, Ben Mirin of National Geographic, and The Berggruen Institute. Recognizing his innovative artistic practice and his relentless exploration of vocal expression, Trung Bao was honored with inclusion in Forbes' prestigious 30 under 30 Vietnam list in 2020.




Selected publications

Expanded.art
World Economic Forum
Fast Company
Hypebeast
VOICE GEMS Meta-museum
Designboom
Wallpaper*
Surface Magazine
L’OFFICIEL
Tienphong.vn
VietNamNet
Vietcetera


Selected exhibitions

Art Basel - Miami, United States 2021
The Digital Francisco Carolinum ‘Cryptovoxel’ - 2022
Voice Gems Meta Museum - Oncyber 2022
Songs To Experience - Perth, Australia 2022
TED - London, United Kingdom 2022
World Economic Forum - Davos, Switzerland 2022
Berggruen Institute - Chicago, United States 2022
W1 Curates - London, United Kingdom 2022
Elementum Art - Zurich Switzerland 2022
‘Fulfillment’ Exhibition - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam 2022
Focus Art Fair - New York city, United States 2023
Thanh Canh ‘Openlab’ - Hanoi, Vietnam 2023
Thanh Canh ‘In The Middle of Chaos’ - Hanoi, Vietnam 2023
VOICE GEMS ASTROPOETICON - Zurich, Switzerland 2023
Voice Gems ‘1000 YEAR ARCHIVE’ - Hanoi, Vietnam 2023
Voice Gems ‘Openlab’ - Hanoi, Vietnam 2023
‘Ô’ Exhibition - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam 2023
‘SMALL V01CE‘ Exhibition - Los Angeles, United States 2024
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