Within the framework of the Vietnam Elevator Expo 2026 at the Vietnam Exhibition Center (VEC, Dong Anh - Hanoi), the Vietnam Elevator Association (VNEA) will organize a seminar on the theme "Paving the Way for Art into Elevators".
The seminar "Paving the Way for Art into Elevators" is a special gathering where professionals from the elevator, architecture, and art fields come together to discuss a key question: can an elevator—a technical product with the pure function of transportation—become a space that tells a story of cultural identity?
This discussion also affirms, in part, the spirit of Resolution 80-NQ/TW on developing Vietnamese culture, issued by the Politburo in early 2026. The resolution is seen as a turning point in development thinking, as it is the first to establish culture not only as a spiritual foundation but also as an endogenous resource, a "pillar," and a "regulatory system" for the nation's rapid and sustainable development.
The seminar "Paving the Way for Art into Elevators" is organized by the Vietnam Elevator Association to promote the spirit of integrating cultural identity, art, and architecture into elevator spaces. The program features the participation of architects and engineers from the Vietnam Construction Consulting Corporation - VNCC, along with design and architectural firms nationwide.
A highlight of the program is the introduction of a collection of elevator cabin designs incorporating lacquer art, developed by VNEA, aiming to bring the story of traditional Vietnamese lacquer into modern elevator interiors.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hai Duc, Chairman of the Vietnam Elevator Association, this idea stems from the thought: "Elevators have long been viewed as purely functional products. But if Vietnamese elevators only compete on functionality to enter the global market, it will be very difficult for us to compete with major European brands. Conversely, if a product carries culture and the national soul, 'Made in Vietnam' elevators can completely create their own distinctive mark."
In other words, instead of only discussing speed, load capacity, or control technology—factors already very familiar in the industry—this seminar attempts to open up a different perspective: the elevator as part of the architectural experience and cultural identity.
Artist Do Khai is the creator of many famous Vietnamese lacquer paintings, notably on the themes of Long Bien Bridge and lotus flowers.
During the program, guest artist Do Khai will share about the historical flow of 'son ta' (Vietnamese lacquer) and his creative journey with this quintessentially Vietnamese material. Interestingly, this lacquer art story is not confined to a traditional gallery but is placed in a very different space—inside an elevator cabin, where millions of people worldwide step in and out every day for just a few brief seconds.
The idea of integrating lacquer art into elevator cabins, a first in Vietnam—initiated by the Vietnam Elevator Association and realized by Son Mai Dat Viet Atelier, with artist Tran Dan directly adapting lacquer artworks for the elevator cabin space.
Therefore, the seminar "Paving the Way for Art into Elevators" is not merely an exchange between artists, architects, and the Vietnamese elevator industry. On a broader level, it is also a story about how traditional values and national cultural identity can enter modern urban daily life—sometimes from the smallest spaces, like inside an elevator cabin.
