Foreword

The ArtTech Hub at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) is set to host the international event ArtTech Fusion 2023, scheduled from October 13th to October 15th, 2023. This year’s theme is “ArtTech: Inspiration for People to Act on Sustainability,” focusing on the intersection of technology and art as tools for sustainable community development. The event aims to improve education quality, enhance mental health, and reduce education and tech inequality

Prof. Nguyen Dong Phong
Chairman of UEH University Council

ArtTech Fusion (ATF) held annually by UEH, features a series of academic exchanges, seminars, exhibitions, and interactive performances thatshowcase cutting-edge art and technology. Each year, the event explores different themes, creating a forum to connect community resources. It brings together government agencies, industries,local communities, artists, educational and research institutions to promote their strengths, foster cooperation, and work towards sustainable development.

Prof. Su Dinh Thanh
President of UEH University

Since its inception in 2020, ArtTech, sustainability, and community enhancement have been central to UEH’s mission. Building on the success of ArtTech Fusion 2022, ArtTech Fusion 2023 (ATF23) promises a unique and interactive experience, uniting art and innovation while celebrating local and international artists and experts in new and exciting ways. This event aims to support the intersection of arts and technology, inspiring action on sustainability across UEH campuses and the broader community. The ArtTech Hub is dedicated to various research, educational, and outreach activities, exploring the impact of these initiatives on citizens, learners, industry, and local government organizations.

Assoc.Prof. Phan Thi Bich Nguyet
Chairwoman of UEH Advisory Council

ArtTech, sustainability, and community enhancement have come together at UEH since 2020. Building upon the success of Art Tech Fusion 2022, Art Tech Fusion 2023 (ATF23) promises to deliver a unique and interactive experience, uniting art and innovation while honoring local and international artists and experts in exciting new ways. This event aims to support the intersection of arts and technology, inspiring action on sustainability across UEH campuses and community. ATH is working on variety of research, educational and outreach activities on the idea what that means for citizens, learners, industry and local government organizations.

ArtTech Fusion 2023 will perform 3 main activities including:

Art Exhibition
Academic Seminars
Interactive Performance

The above activities are not limited to the contributions and ideal suggestions from enterprises to support ATF 2023, making it unique and enriching knowledge for exchanging, promoting parties to learn from each other in the industry for sustainable development.

The Story of
ArtTech and Sustainability

Assoc.Prof. Trinh Thuy Anh
Vice Rector of UEH College of Technology and Design
Director of ArtTech Hub

Beautiful nature is expressed through visual art works of Visual Artist – Kyunri Vien and Mark Do. The use of new technology in arttech gives an interesting perspective on the multi-dimensional and colorful world in “Life is beautiful”.

Prof. Álvaro Barbosa, Prof. Filipa Martins de Abreu and other colleagues from University of Saint Joseph, Macau will showcase some of their NFT artworks, depicting the multidimensionality of culture and sustainable development. Additionally, attendees can immerse themselves in an experience showcasing the beauty of Macau by Prof. Gerald Estadieu.

Another exciting aspect of the ATF23 is the opening of two distinct exhibitions by the Ulsan Art Museum and Kangwoon University. These exhibitions will showcase captivating video artwork and holographic art, offering unique perspectives on global sustainable development from a local context that recognize people as a core of connecting the past, the present and the future. “Locality” is a message of reserve traditions and the identity values of each locality in global sustainable development.

Technology brings great changes to the world. Technology helps create a new look, a rethinking of the future, from which creativity is the key to regenerating resources. “Tech for future” by Kyunri Vien and Diego Lazy is an answer to concerns about the gap between humans and machines.

The world is constantly changing, the flow of energy connecting from the depths of history blends in the ceaseless movement of the uncertain future to create the foundations of sustainable development. “The world is changing” is an interactive art exhibition by Visual Artist Tung Monkey.

VR (virtual reality) videos from UJS and UEH students create special interactive experience for engaging with social realities. In particular, artworks by students of Chulalongkorn, USM, Yunlin, and Xi’an schools about our society todaya are also exhibited. As technology develops, can machines replace humans? Can humans be replaced by special versions of artificial intelligence? Virtual fashion – the fashion of the future created by visual artist Dong Ho, will meet the needs of young people.

The focus point of ATF23 – The interactive performance “Technology and Humanity: the Interconnection”, featuring Prof. Álvaro Barbosa, Visual Artist Kyunri Vien, and Visual Artist Tung Monkey, will blend real-time generative digital art with AI-generated art and human creativity. This fusion of art and technology will provide viewers with a captivating experience and an opportunity to explore sustainable actions.

Humans – the connection of the past, present and future – need to develop harmonious relationship between culture, art and technology and machinery. The intersection of art and technology can help connect emotions, visualize social issues, increase interactive experiences, reposition the future, and increase collaboration and community engagement, changing people’s awareness and attitudes.

ATF

RECAP

ArtTech and Sustainability: Exploring the Intersection of Creativity, Technology, and Environmental Responsibility in Vietnam

Dong-Su Yi,
School of Media Design, UEH College of Technology and Design
Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Introduction

In the face of pressing environmental challenges, the fusion of art and technology has emerged as a powerful avenue for innovation and sustainable progress. This blend, which we term “ArtTech” is not only redefining the frontiers of creative expression but is also becoming a potent force for environmental advocacy and action. Vietnam, with its rich cultural heritage and dynamic societal landscape, stands at the forefront of this transformative movement, harnessing ArtTech as a lever for ecological modernization and sustainable development.

The interplay between art and technology in Vietnam resonates with several core objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). These initiatives exemplify the goals of SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by employing art-tech to construct a resilient infrastructure rooted in sustainability. In parallel, the emergence of collaborative art-tech projects aligns with the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), creating multi-stakeholder platforms to address Vietnam’s unique environmental challenges. Furthermore, through the lens of SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Vietnam’s art-tech community actively promotes sustainable practices and contributes to a culture of environmental stewardship. Additionally, art-tech’s educational potential closely aligns with SDG 4 (Quality Education), utilizing these creative endeavors to deepen public understanding and education regarding sustainability.

Key Contributions

Cultural Preservation and Sustainability: Art and technology effectively merge tradition cultural preservation with contemporary sustainability needs. Initiatives like virtual cultural reality reconstructions of historical sites and environmentally themed rejuvenate cultural heritage while promoting sustainable practices, showcasing a successful blend of old and new.

Community Engagement: Art-tech significantly enhances community engagement and environmental awareness. Projects such as mural campaigns and digital art workshops transform the public from passive observers to active participants in sustainability dialogues, boosting community involvement and awareness.

Practical Impact: The creative sector, supported by technological advancements plays a key role in developing sustainable infrastructures and promoting responsible consumption patterns. These interdisciplinary efforts result in tangible eco-friendly solutions and public education on enviromental stewardship.