LeBaDang Memory Space is located on Kim Son Hill (Thuy Bang Commune, Hue City). This is the work to realize the dream of the talented painter Le Ba Dang about a place of harmony between people, nature and art.
Born in Quang Tri province, Le Ba Dang moved to France in 1939 and studied at Toulouse Academy of Art. Later, he became a famous painter in Europe who was viewed as a master artist of the East and West art worlds. He passed away in 2015 in Paris, aged 94. During his lifetime, artist Le Ba Dang had envisioned a space which could facilitate his creativity and exhibit his full-scale artworks. When he passed away in 2015, that dream was left unfulfilled.
Mrs. Le Cam Te, who had spent more than a decade working with Le Ba Dang, was well aware of his lifelong vision to create his own artist’s paradise and made it her responsibility to fulfill his wishes post-humously. She began by locating a plot of land to build Lebadang Memory Space, which she found in Huong Thuy town. Previously, it was a vacant hill where the soil was red, hard and rocky. Despite being discouraged by peers from choosing this particular location, she envisioned a beautiful space and pursued upon her initial admiration for the land.
In 2016, the year after Le Ba Dang’s passing, Mrs. Cam Te invited Mrs. Myshu, the wife of Le Ba Dang, to visit the plotted land for Memory Space. Upon discussing the project and ideas, Mrs. Myshu gave her full approval and has continued to show her support since.
The first of many considerations was the architectural design. After a range of suggestions were discussed, the decision was made by Mrs. Myshu to use a Le Ba Dang paper artwork as the architectural model for the main building. Mrs. Myshu also asked for absolute loyalty to the original. With the collaboration and contributions of a consortium of people including architect Ho Viet Vinh, artist To Bich Hai, media designer Luc Ho, interior designer Éric Mignard and constructional engineer Vu Van Kien, the small-scale artwork was turned into the magnificent building that stands today.
On 21st April 2019, Le Ba Dang’s vision was realized with the opening of Lebadang Memory Space in Kim Son hamlet, Thuy Bang commune, Huong Thuy town, Thua Thien Hue province. With support from local and international friends and admirers of Le Ba Dang, Mrs. Le Cam Te’s mission and Le Ba Dang’s vision had been completed.
Lebadang Memory Space now serves as an exhibition for the artworks which Mrs. Myshu gave to Mrs. Cam Te along with the ones which were entrusted to Mrs. Le Cam Te by Le Ba Dang from 2009 to 2012 and also given to her during the 10 years working with him. The space is also set to be the destination for encounters, exchanges of people who love fine art in general and Lebadang art in particular as well as to host future events.
Lebadang Memory Space is a special architectural work built in his own artistic language.