BOOK LAUNCH & TALK with Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn
-

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2026
6 PM 
BLACK BOX, PALAZZO DIEDO

free admission

-

Palazzo Diedo is pleased to present When Water Embraces Empty Space, the accompanying catalogue for Vietnamese-American artist Tuấn Andrew Nguyễn’s exhibition of the same name, which ran at the Edith-Russ-Haus for Media Art in Oldenburg from October 2024 to January 2025.

The exhibition unfolds as a work of speculative fiction. Through films, photographs, and sculptures, Nguyễn reconstructs both the documented and reimagined history of the famous Luf Boat, currently housed in Berlin’s Humboldt Forum. The project's genesis lies in a pivotal encounter with the descendants of the original boat builders, who were able to see the vessel for the first time through this unique collaboration.

Part travelogue and part institutional critique, When Water Embraces Empty Space is a multimedia exploration of craft, colonialism, heritage, and care. Ultimately, the project illuminates untold histories, fosters a dialogue around communal learning and cultural diplomacy, and holds onto the hope of the majestic boat’s eventual return.