This installation has journeyed across borders—from Vietnam to the Netherlands (Amsterdam Art Week), France (FITE and Lyon Biennale), and now Milan, its final European destination, before continuing to Egypt for Something Else Art Event in February 2025.
Along its migration, the installation spreads an urgent yet hopeful message: love transcends boundaries. It serves as a metaphor for connection over segregation, addressing the fragmentation caused by current geopolitical instability.
Situated in Ditroit_Dream’s street-facing, transparent gallery, the artwork is freely accessible to all, offering a direct and barrier-free experience for everyone passing by. This openness reflects the spirit of the piece, which seeks to connect rather than divide.
The exhibition title, “The world is on fire, but we have each other.” is a deviation from the manifesto on overconsumption, “The world is on fire, but we are still buying shoes.” Its presence on one of Milan’s most famous commercial streets becomes a quiet protest against overconsumption, inviting viewers to reconsider the ecological cost and mental fatigue of material excess.
As the curator of the show states,“What happened is, we grew lonely, living among the things, behind the borders we set against each other. And we hope this installation serves as a reminder that even in these politically and environmentally challenging times — when the world is on fire — we still have each other.”
Special thanks to STUDIO DIEDRICH (a Munich/Paris-based design studio) for designing the exhibition‘s visual identity, and heartfelt gratitude to Ditroit_Dream for their generous support.
Trần Quang Đại
Born in Vietnam in 1992, Trần Quang Đại lives and works in Saigon, Vietnam. He has recently had solo exhibitions in Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, France, and the Netherlands. His practice of performance is inhabited by the recurring question, “How are you these days?” Đại‘s artistic approach intertwines with non-profit art therapy, enriching his journey with a profound impact on himself and those who engage with his installations. Through a series of solo exhibitions and immersive encounters, he dives deep into the psychological realm, where repetitive questions elicit distinct answers, uncovering the very essence of being.
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