Salon Natasha was the first private gallery in Hà Nội. It was established in 1990 by Russian emigré Natalia Kraevskaia and her husband, the artist Vũ Dân Tân. The Salon is located in the home of its owner's family, and at the same time serves as Vũ Dân Tân's studio, a meeting place for artists, intellectuals and public and a venue for modern, young, experimental and non-commercial art. Salon Natasha is known for its intriguing combination of art and daily life and a commitment to showing works which are different from those of mainstream Vietnamese contemporary art. Contemporary art in Việt Nam has undergone rapid change during the last decade. The policy of renovation (đổi mới) begun in 1986 has expanded the horizons of artistic creativity and self-expression. The boundaries imposed by traditional and Socialist Realist art have been replaced by the emergence of new art forms and stylistic diversity. This unprecedented shift has demanded new forms and representations, free from the previous limitations. In the early 90s Salon Natasha was the only exhibiting space in Việt Nam free from government structures and open to the new spirit of artistic freedom. In this context the goal of the Salon is to respond to growing social and artistic change and to introduce the public to new directions and innovations in art. It seeks: (i) to promote not only well-known artists but also younger ones who have strong passion for experimentation; (ii) to support collaborative forms in art work; (iii) to introduce foreign art works which have definite links to Vietnam; (iv) to resist commercialism in art and the negative influences of the market; and (v) to welcome those who have both a conceptual and a playful approach to art making. Salon Natasha has participated in many international exchange programmes, including Gặp Việt Nam at Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin (1999).