Using inventive instruments crafted from ceramic jars, vases, pots, gongs and bells, ‘GOm Show’ tells stories of the earth and humanity through a powerful, wordless language.
Inspired by the enduring legacy of Vietnamese ceramics, both tangible and rooted in cultural memory, Gom Show embarks on a symbolic sonic journey.
In the performance, the pottery wheel takes the role of storyteller, while ceramic instruments such as jars, vases, pots, gongs and bells act as narrators, conveying tales of the earth and humanity through a wordless language.
The hour-long show unfolds across eight seamlessly connected pieces. Without an emcee or narration, music and the performers’ movements become the sole medium of expression.
Audiences are immersed in layers of evocative sound that awaken the imagination, stir cultural memory and transport listeners across diverse sonic landscapes, all unified by a distinctive Vietnamese soul. Each composition reflects the voices of ethnic communities, including Mo Nong, Tay, Lo Lo, Nung Din, E De and Ha Nhi.
Brought to life by Dan Do, the project features uniquely crafted instruments designed by the group. Highlights include the trong chum, created from large clay jars combined with tyre inner tubes, which produces deep bass tones reminiscent of a giant bass guitar. The trong lang, shaped like a round rice cake, emits warm, earthy reverberations. The chieng sanh and chuong sanh are gongs and bells made from fired clay, each offering a distinct tonal identity. The gom xoay generates soft, resonant sounds through hand-spun movements along the pottery’s rim, while the dan nieu, made of small clay pots, produces gentle, lingering melodies.
Together, these instruments revive traditional elements and transform them into a contemporary, immersive musical language.
Members of the contemporary music collective Dan Do, the creative force behind the ‘GOm Show’, include Nguyen Duc Minh, Nguyen Quang Su and Dinh Anh Tuan. Photo courtesy of Gom Show
Founded 12 years ago, Dan Do has maintained a consistent creative path grounded in local materials. Guided by the philosophy “culture as the foundation, people as the energy,” the group builds every project on Vietnamese textures and spirit, producing works that are both deeply rooted and forward-looking.
According to group member Dinh Anh Tuan, Gom Show not only marks a new chapter in Dan Do’s journey, but also represents progress for Vietnamese contemporary art.
“This project bridges two generations of artists, seasoned founders and emerging young talents who are working with us for the first time,” Tuan said.
He added that the show reflects an evolution in creative music inspired by indigenous materials, featuring newly crafted instruments from terracotta and clay. While rooted in tradition, the approach remains fresh and exploratory, ensuring culture not only endures but continues to resonate and evolve.
“We seek to uncover profound sounds from the simplest forms. I hope the audience feels the emotional richness that pottery can express,” Tuan said.
Artists perform during a media preview of the Gom Show in Hanoi on June 10
“Working with clay has revealed just how magical ceramic culture is, not just in Vietnam but around the world. It’s where humans have long harmonised with nature, mastering earth, water and fire in close connection with local identity. Pottery spans millennia, but we intentionally refrain from fixing it to any specific historical period in the show.”
Do Tuan Anh, a representative from project sponsor Sky Sounds Production, said that indigenous music is not merely an artistic expression but a way of honouring nature, people and the spiritual life of the land.
“Every sound and material preserved carries deep empathy for the communities that shaped them,” he said.
“We, along with Dan Do, share a vision to elevate indigenous Vietnamese music on the global stage, letting its rustic, soulful melodies resound as a singular and authentic voice of Vietnam in the world.”
Following the two premiere nights, the show is expected to run regularly on weekends in Hanoi, with plans to expand performances next year, particularly targeting international visitors.
Tickets for the Gom Show can be reserved by calling the hotline at +84 988 778 883 or emailing info@skysoundsproduction.vn.