'Resurrection': Resonant song of reunion by 70-year-old mahogany tree in heart of Hanoi

Supported by the Hanoi People's Committee and Hoan Kiem District authorities, the project by artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen aims to revitalize public space, highlight cultural identity, and honor the historical value of urban greenery.

In the heart of Hanoi, where time weaves stories that outlast a lifetime, stood a 70-year-old mahogany tree in Co Tan Square, Hoan Kiem District. This tree had borne witness to countless historic moments – from the resistance wars against the French and the Americans to the peaceful decades that followed.

It was once thought that the tree would stand forever – a silent witness to the evolving story of the capital. But in September 2024, typhoon Yagi swept through Hanoi with unrelenting force, toppling more than 25,000 trees.

The ancient mahogany in Co Tan was among them. With the eyes and heart of an artist, Tia-Thuy Nguyen chose to bring the fallen tree back to life.

Breathing new spirit into the uprooted trunk, she created Resurrection – an artwork that speaks of life, death, and the eternal reunion with the cosmos. The official unveiling of Resurrection will take place on April 22 at Co Tan Square.

After the opening, the piece will remain on display as a permanent part of the capital city's public space, inviting all to reflect and connect with its story.

New form, new life for fallen mahogany tree

Resurrection is not merely an art installation, it is a poetic journey of transformation. For artist Tia-Thuy Nguyen, the fallen trunk of a mahogany tree does not signify the end of a life cycle.

In her eyes, death is simply a moment of transition, where energy does not vanish but instead takes on a new, more radiant and vibrant form.

From the 'fragments' of nature, she created a towering nine-meter-high, two-meter-wide sculpture using stainless steel and quartz, reimagining the form of the mahogany in an entirely new light – shimmering, majestic, yet still imbued with the soul of nature itself.

In 2023, Tia-Thuy Nguyen created Hoa doi using similar techniques. With Hoi sinh (Resurrection), the artist has elevated both her craftsmanship and artistic vision to new heights. The making of Resurrection was a symphony of patience and creativity. Over 6,000 hours of labor and more than six tons of stainless steel went into the creation of the piece.

Sheets of 5mm-thick steel were meticulously hand-forged to follow every rugged contour of the tree trunk.

Artisans welded each joint seamlessly, creating rough grooves and ridges that evoke the texture of bark – reimagined in a shimmering, metallic language.

The branches twist and bend with organic fluidity, while the canopy is composed of thousands of glistening steel leaves, adorned with vibrant quartz 'blossoms.'

As sunlight reaches its peak, the sculpture comes alive, as if awakened, singing a radiant hymn to life.

The metallic shell is not merely a protective frame – it is a dazzling piece of jewelry, both regal and intimate.

It stands as a remarkable feat of engineering and an artistic manifesto: death is not an end, but the beginning of a new chapter – much like the way we rise, stronger, after the storm.

Playful dance with sunlight beneath the skies of Hanoi

Resurrection now stands exactly where the old mahogany tree once grew. Breathed to life by the artist, it is no longer a static sculpture - it has presence, breath, and the power to engage in dialogue with the world around it.

Light, a signature strength of Tia-Thuy Nguyen, becomes an inseparable part of the artwork.

Each ray of sunlight is 'caught' by shimmering steel leaves and quartz blossoms, creating light displays that are never the same twice.

With every passing moment, the sculpture takes on a new form, as if whispering a different story to each viewer who encounters it.

Tia-Thuy Nguyen masterfully balances the grandeur of a large-scale installation with exquisite attention to detail.

Resurrection does not just overwhelm with its scale – it stirs something deep within. A well-timed ray of sunlight can illuminate the heart of the tree, as if awakening long-forgotten memories.

Paired with Resurrection is Echo, a work by artist Tran Manh Hung. Echo consists of benches crafted from the very mahogany tree that once stood there, arranged in concentric arcs facing Resurrection.

The design evokes the image of tree rings – memories etched in wood. Encased in transparent acrylic blocks and set atop stainless-steel stands, the piece suggests time transformed into a shimmering river, endlessly flowing through memory and reflection.

The resonance between the two works creates an artistic space that is at once nostalgic and contemporary, serene yet vibrant – a gentle reminder that all life can be redefined.

More than a symbol of Resurrection, the installation stands as a promise for the future, where art and nature intertwine to heal the wounds of the past.

Resurrection not only tells the story of a mahogany tree, but also the story of Hanoi – of the people who have lived, who have passed, and who have found ways to rise again after the storm, much like the city's inhabitants.

It sparks curiosity about the origins, form, and meaning of the artwork, while also offering countless pathways for each viewer to find their own answer. In the shimmering metallic light, in the whispering rings of wood.

Resurrection will be officially unveiled to the audience in Hanoi and across the country at the end of April.

It is set to become an enticing destination for both Vietnamese citizens and international visitors – anyone who appreciates beauty and art.