Vi Trinh makes conceptual work using the format of humorous video games and installation to deconstruct specifics and understand the format of structural inequality. The artist explores systemic inequalities as built systems and video games as built systems creating choice architectures. She uses genres of narrative Sci-fi and futurism in order to exaggerate and clarify present patterns in ecology and social inequality. She attempts to deconstruct new modes of power (technology, internet, data) that uphold old hierarchies while trying to adhere to internet ideals of free and open access to information. Trying to empowering the user with control over their experience. The narrative in the pieces uses humor to welcome the viewer and to make the material more accessible, while also being a response to absurdism and a source of perpetual energy. The pieces often are shown on a computer screen in gallery but are also accessible on the internet for either download or playable on the viewers phone.
Vi Trinh’s current project “Hot Potato Hot Takes” is an ongoing series of mini-games each made in under 48 hours. Each game is a reaction to current events and issues using design and humorous metaphor to communicate opinions on the subject. A response to the artists previous way of working, these pieces are structurally impulsive and fast pieces to quickly communicate smaller ideas. The games are made to be played online on the viewer’s phone, or on the viewers own time in private as an individual.
Instagram: @v_trinh
Email: vi.trinh2255@gmail.com
Vi Trinh
Exhibition History
2022 Shall Make Shall Be: The Bill of Rights at Play, Frank-Ratchye Studio of Creative Inquiry, New York City, New York
00:59:59, 120 Fen Court, London UK
Futures_after, Futures_after collective and Hypha Studios, London UK
HūXī Respiration, Goldsmiths Confucius Institute for Dance and Performance, London UK
2021 ONHOLD 2, Goldsmiths University, London UK
ONHOLD, Goldsmiths University, London UK
2020 2020 Post-Grad Residents, Torpedo Factory Target Gallery, Alexandria VA
FILE Sao Paulo 2020, FILE Electronic Language International Festival, Sao Paulo, Brazil (Cancelled)
Juried Art/Technology works at Boston Cyber Arts, Boston Cyber Arts, Boston MD (Cancelled)
2019 Digital U: Extreme Views pt. 2, Art Gene, Cumbria England
Intimist 4, La Fenice art gallery Hong Kong, Hong Kong China
△: Senior Thesis Exhibition, Harnett Museum of Art, Richmond VA
Senior Thesis Exhibition: James River, James River, Richmond VA
Publications
2020 HALT, FLAT journal, Los Angeles, CA
Art in Progress, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria VA
The Station | A Response by Gaby Williams, Digital America Issue 15, Richmond VA
Vi Trinh | Q+A, Digital America Issue 15, Richmond VA
The Station, Digital America Issue 15, Richmond VA
City Creatives: Vi Trinh, Alexandria Times, Alexandria VA
2019 Escape, Digital America Issue 13, digitalamerica.org
Tuong-Vi Trinh, ’19: Senior infuses her art with social justice themes, University of Richmond Newsroom, Richmond, VA
2018 Thank You, Digital America Issue 11, digitalamerica.org
Rise, Silver Stork: Dawn, silverstorkmagazine.weebly.com
Residencies
2022 Catford Peacocks Residency, Hypha Studios and London Creative Council, London UK
2021 Shall Make, Shall Be: The Bill of Rights at Play, Carnegie Mellon University’s Frank-Ratchye STUDIO For Creative Inquiry, Remote
2020 Trestle Art Space Spring 2020 Residency, Trestle Art Space, Brooklyn NY (Declined)
Post-Graduate Residency, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria VA
Programming
2020 Shall Make, Shall Be: Two Evenings of Online Artist Talk by Game Creators, Frank Ratchye Studio, Pittsburgh PA
3D Blender Workshop, Futures_after, London UK
Improv writing workshop, Futures_after, London Uk
2020 Post-Graduate Artist Talk, Torpedo Factory Art Center, Alexandria VA
2019 Artist Talk, Harnett Museum of Art, Richmond VA
Related Work Experience
2022 Futures_after administration: grant application, events, installation, publicity, invigilation, Futures_after and Hypha Studios, London UK
Goldsmiths Mentorship Program Founder and Administrator, Goldsmiths, London UK
2021 NFT Asset Design, Washington DC
2019 Gallery Exhibition & Public Programs Intern, IA&A Hillyer Gallery, Washington DC
Head Curator, Digital America Issue 12 & Issue 13, digitalamerica.org
Media Editor, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA
Content and Web Designer, Scholars Latino Initiative, Richmond, VA
2018 Assistant Curator, Digital America Issue 11, digitalamerica.org
Program Leader, Art 180, Richmond, VA
Grants and Awards
2022 Hypha Studio and London Creative Council, London UK
2021 Goldsmiths Fine Art Bursary, London, UK
Shall Make Shall Be, Frank Ratchye Studio, Pittsburgh PA
2019 Bobby Chandler Award for Music & Art, Richmond, VA
Spring University of Richmond A&S Fellowship, Richmond, VA
Fall University of Richmond A&S Fellowship, Richmond, VA
University of Richmond Chevy Chase Book Award, Richmond, VA
Summer University of Richmond A&S Fellowship, Richmond, VA
2018 Spring University of Richmond A&S Fellowship, Richmond, VA
University of Richmond Chevy Chase Book Award, Richmond, VA
2017 University of Richmond Faculty Student Choice Award, Richmond, VA
2016 University of Richmond Faculty Student Choice Award, Richmond, VA
Public Collections
2019 Harnett Museum of Art Permanent Collection, Richmond, VA
Education
2023 Goldsmiths University of London, MFA Fine Art, London, UK
2019 University of Richmond, B.A. Visual and Media Arts Practice & Leadership Studies, Richmond, VA