This is Martin’s third exhibition in Vietnam and her second at the museum, which is located in Nguyen Van Huyen street, Hanoi.

As an artist rather than an ethnographer, Martin has tried to imagine a journey of discovery in which she would find an unknown ethnic group, conceiving of their new and strange customs and then representing them through her work.

Her ideas were adapted from scientific disciplines and images, including archaeology, anatomy, botany and museum collections, and the installation focuses on the way museums transforms the meaning, interpretation and aesthetics of the objects displayed.

Her sculptures are made from aluminum cans and other recycled materials, because she ‘found’ that her ethnic group used a lot of such things, she said. They continued to live on agriculture, with farming a large part of their lives.

The exhibition, which is being sponsored by the Australian Embassy in Hanoi, will last through April 16.

VNS