Trung Bảo Nguyễn is a multidisciplinary Vietnamese new media 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 the theme of experimentation, cross-disciplinary and community are prominent.
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. Trung opened the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024 at the iconic Hanoi Opera House with his new piece “Ke Cho”, a performance blending traditional Vietnamese music with contemporary elements. This showcase, performed in front of over 2,500 attendees, celebrated the cultural diversity and creative spirit of Hanoi, coinciding with the city’s recognition as part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
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. In 2024, the piece Voice of Hiroshima Survivor Trees from the Voice Gems archive was a finalist for the prestigious Lumen Prize exhibited at the Victoria + Albert Museum in London.
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, DAZED100 Asia 2024 under art category and nominated for VTV Awards 2024 in the “Outstanding Young Talent” category by Vietnam Television (VTV).
Selected publications
Expanded.art
World Economic Forum
Fast Company
Hypebeast
VOICE GEMS Meta-museum
Designboom
Wallpaper*
Surface Magazine
METAL Magazine
DAZED
L’OFFICIEL
European Union
Tienphong.vn
VietNamNet
Vietcetera
Selected exhibitions & showcases
2024 - London, United Kingdom - V&A x Lumen Prize 'The Future of Art'
2024 - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam - 'voidis' at 'Ô' Exhibition 2024
2024 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Re.imagine Concert Vol.1
2024 - Hanoi, Vietnam - ‘Ke Cho’ openning for Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024
2024 - Hanoi, Vietnam - LG OLED 'Futurescape' Exhibition
2024 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates - TIME100 Most Influential People in AI
2024 - Los Angeles, United States - ‘SMALL V01CE‘ Exhibition
2023 - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam - ‘Ô’ Exhibition
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Voice Gems ‘Openlab’
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Voice Gems ‘1000 YEAR ARCHIVE’
2023 - Zurich, Switzerland - VOICE GEMS ASTROPOETICON
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Thanh Canh ‘In The Middle of Chaos’
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Thanh Canh ‘Openlab’
2023 - New York city, United States - Focus Art Fair
2022 - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam - ‘Fulfillment’ Exhibition
2022 - Zurich, Switzerland - Elementum Art
2022 - London, United Kingdom - W1 Curates
2022 - Chicago, United States - Berggruen Institute
2022 - Davos, Switzerland - World Economic Forum
2022 - London, United Kingdom - TED
2022 - Perth, Australia - Songs To Experience
2022 - Oncyber - Voice Gems Meta Museum
2022 - Cryptovoxel - The Digital Francisco Carolinum
2021 - Miami, United States - Art Basel
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. Trung opened the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024 at the iconic Hanoi Opera House with his new piece “Ke Cho”, a performance blending traditional Vietnamese music with contemporary elements. This showcase, performed in front of over 2,500 attendees, celebrated the cultural diversity and creative spirit of Hanoi, coinciding with the city’s recognition as part of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network.
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. In 2024, the piece Voice of Hiroshima Survivor Trees from the Voice Gems archive was a finalist for the prestigious Lumen Prize exhibited at the Victoria + Albert Museum in London.
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, DAZED100 Asia 2024 under art category and nominated for VTV Awards 2024 in the “Outstanding Young Talent” category by Vietnam Television (VTV).
Selected publications
Expanded.art
World Economic Forum
Fast Company
Hypebeast
VOICE GEMS Meta-museum
Designboom
Wallpaper*
Surface Magazine
METAL Magazine
DAZED
L’OFFICIEL
European Union
Tienphong.vn
VietNamNet
Vietcetera
Selected exhibitions & showcases
2024 - London, United Kingdom - V&A x Lumen Prize 'The Future of Art'
2024 - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam - 'voidis' at 'Ô' Exhibition 2024
2024 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Re.imagine Concert Vol.1
2024 - Hanoi, Vietnam - ‘Ke Cho’ openning for Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024
2024 - Hanoi, Vietnam - LG OLED 'Futurescape' Exhibition
2024 - Dubai, United Arab Emirates - TIME100 Most Influential People in AI
2024 - Los Angeles, United States - ‘SMALL V01CE‘ Exhibition
2023 - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam - ‘Ô’ Exhibition
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Voice Gems ‘Openlab’
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Voice Gems ‘1000 YEAR ARCHIVE’
2023 - Zurich, Switzerland - VOICE GEMS ASTROPOETICON
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Thanh Canh ‘In The Middle of Chaos’
2023 - Hanoi, Vietnam - Thanh Canh ‘Openlab’
2023 - New York city, United States - Focus Art Fair
2022 - Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam - ‘Fulfillment’ Exhibition
2022 - Zurich, Switzerland - Elementum Art
2022 - London, United Kingdom - W1 Curates
2022 - Chicago, United States - Berggruen Institute
2022 - Davos, Switzerland - World Economic Forum
2022 - London, United Kingdom - TED
2022 - Perth, Australia - Songs To Experience
2022 - Oncyber - Voice Gems Meta Museum
2022 - Cryptovoxel - The Digital Francisco Carolinum
2021 - Miami, United States - Art Basel
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