About

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

2022

Play/Pause Issue, Rabbit Hole Collective, London, UK

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

2022

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

 

Vi Trinh CV Download Here