Duy Nguyen

Duy Nguyen (b.1989), also known under the artist name Vitaboy, was born in a refugee camp in Malaysia. Duy immigrated to a small island on the west coast of Norway at the age of four. He spent years studying and working abroad as an art director in cities like Stockholm, New York and Shanghai before returning to Norway in 2018. While living abroad he found his passion in photography and art and has since 2018 worked as an artist. Duy currently resides in Oslo, Norway.

Duy’s art practise mainly revolves around the subjective exploration of how memories affects our personal experiences. He then adds layers and themes to the exploration of memories; for example the immigrant experience – and themes of masculinity. Growing up as a refugee, and in near-poverty, he spent majority of his youth day-dreaming about what life could be like. His photography works reflects this mindset as his photographs are often reflections of his internal mind, rather than the reflection of the outside world. Duy thinks of his art practise as acts of performances where the photograph is the outcome of the artistic gesture, instead of an act of documentation. He also actively uses chance as an active creative tool.

Solo/Duo Exhibitions

2022 (coming):

• Title TBA / Karmøy Kunstforening / Norway

2019:

• In Bloom / Oslo Fushion Festival – Paleet Oslo, Norway
• Juncture / Pop-up Duo-utstilling with Abi Qadar – Strøget Oslo, Norway

2018:

• See You / 706 Youth Space Beijing, China

Group Exhibtions

2022 (coming):

• Bruxelles Vue Art Expo / Canelas, Portugal

2021:

• Dis-Harmony / PH21 Gallery / Budapest, Hungary
• PLAY by Collective Oslo / Valkyrien / Oslo, Norway
• National Art Exhibition / Kunstnernes Hus / Oslo, Norway
• ARTillery #2: Evolution / Collective Oslo – Oslo Fushion Festival, Norway
• What’s up the body - Bu Lian Ti Tai / Virtual exhibition / YeahDAO China
• ARTillery #1: Revolution / Collective Oslo – Skur 13 Oslo, Norway

2020:

•  XMAS XOXO / Low Standards Oslo, Norway

2019:

• Onstad Night pop-up exhibition / Henie Onstad Art Center, Oslo
• Mechanophilia / Oslo Fushion Festival, Norway
• Erotica / Blank Space Oslo, Norway

2017:

• The Landscapes of Ho Chi Minh City / Amuna Museum Nanjing, China
• Vitality Remains / HATx27 Yard – Beijing, China

Grants

• The Cultural Schoolbag Grants via Karmøy Kunstforening / Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Education / 2022
• Diverse Stipend / Norwegian Council of Arts / 2022
• The Audio & Visual Fund: Project grant / Norwegian Council of Arts / 2021

Residencies

• Upcoming:
  LIA Leipzig International Art Programme, Leipzig, Germany / Planned August-October 2022 / Sponsored by The Goethe-Institut Dänemark and the Goethe-Institut Norwegen
  

• Wonderland Magazine, Photos for artist Red Moon, 2021
• Notion Magazine Online, Music Video for Red Moon, 2021
• Emir album artworks, Shot pop-artist Emir for Sony Music Norway, 2020
• Notion Magazine #87, Shot artist Sassy 009 for the paper issue, 2020
• Norwegian Wood, fashion editorial for Sukeban Magazine, 2020
• Nocturnal, fashion editorial for Nasty Magazine, 2019
• DNA, fashion editorial for Kaltblut Magazine (DE), 2019
• Kitwan Studios, Metal Magazine (EU), 2019
• Gamekeeper, fashion editorial for PS:Magasin (NO), 2019
• Contemporary Warrior, fashion editorial for Dreck Magazine (SE), 2019
• The North Star, fashion editorial for F5 Magazine (NO), 2019
• Yaru in «Wonderland», fashion editorial for Sukeban Magazine (UK), 2019
• Melancholy, Fashion editorial for PS:Magasin (NO), 2019
• 1995NYC, Womenswear (CN), Lookbook, 2019
• Grünerløkka, fashion editorial for Kaltblut Magazine (DE), 2018
• Misty Lake, fashion editorial for Sicky Magazine (ES), 2018
• Laundry Day, fashion editorial for F5 Magazine (NO), 2018
• Suicoke Fall/Winter 18, fashion editorial for EyeC Magazine (NO), 2018
• TooMuch Jewelry (CN) Lookbook, 2018
• The Aykes Magazine (CN), Lookbook, 2017