Photo Hanoi ’25 brings international pictures to the capital

HÀ NỘI — This November, the capital metropolis will rework right into a vibrant canvas of visible storytelling as Photo Hanoi ’25, the International Photography Biennale, returns for a month-long celebration of the artwork.

{A photograph} on view in ‘Vietnam’s Intersection’, to be displayed on the outer wall of the French Embassy in Việt Nam. Photo photohanoi.com

From November 1 to 30, artwork lovers, pictures fanatics and curious passers-by alike will likely be handled to what organisers name ‘a visible feast’ – a city-wide showcase of exhibitions, workshops and artistic encounters.

Held below the patronage of the Hà Nội People’s Committee and the French Embassy in Việt Nam, and co-organised by the French Institute in Việt Nam and the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports, with assist from the UNESCO Office in Hà Nội, the occasion goals to place Hà Nội as a dynamic hub for pictures in Asia.

It additionally displays town’s rising stature as a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, dedicated to nurturing cultural innovation and change.

This yr’s version brings collectively over 170 artists, photographers, curators and consultants from 21 nations, in collaboration with 25 specialised establishments. Across greater than 20 venues all through town, the general public could have entry to 22 free exhibitions – each solo and group – alongside 29 parallel occasions together with talks, workshops, artwork excursions, guide launches, movie screenings and portfolio opinions.

Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports, Bạch Liên Hương. Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports

Director of the Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports, Bạch Liên Hương, described the occasion as “a collaborative effort, synergy, and connection among organisations, units, and individuals both domestically and internationally, with the aim of bringing high-quality art closer to photography enthusiasts, the public, and tourists”.

The biennale will not be solely a platform for showcasing expertise but additionally a uncommon alternative for the Vietnamese pictures neighborhood to interact immediately with worldwide friends.

Director of the French Institute in Việt Nam, Eric Soulier. Photo courtesy of Hà Nội Department of Culture and Sports

“Photo Hanoi ’25 stands as a major collaborative initiative – the result of strong synergy among institutions, organisations, and individuals from Việt Nam and abroad,” stated Eric Soulier, Director of the French Institute in Việt Nam.

“All share the same ambition – to make photography more accessible and to celebrate its richness with both art lovers and the general public.”

{A photograph} featured within the exhibition ‘Vertical Landscapes’, to be displayed round Hoàn Kiếm Lake. Photo photohanoi.com

Among the taking part artists are famend names akin to Jean-François Spricigo, Andy Soloman, Bert Danckaert, Birgit Kleber, O’se Brendan, Yuki Tawada, Catherine Karnow, José Manuel Ballester, David van Dartel, Štěpánka Stein, Tony Noël, Antoine d’Agata and Francesco Chiot.

Some have longstanding ties to Việt Nam; others deliver views formed by backgrounds in structure, portray, or philosophy – enriching the dialogue between disciplines.

The exhibitions span a large thematic vary, from historic reminiscence to city landscapes, and sort out urgent international points akin to local weather change and the human-nature relationship.

Highlights embrace Vertical Landscapes, a collaborative show by European and Vietnamese photographers, with works thoughtfully organized round Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

At Diên Hồng Garden, a gaggle of younger Southeast Asian photographers presents a compelling visible narrative on the impression of local weather change.

{A photograph} exhibited in ‘Visualising Climate Change’ happening at Diên Hồng Garden. Photo photohanoi.com

Two exhibitions invite guests to step again in time. One, displayed on the partitions of the Temple of Literature – Quốc Tử Giám, options uncommon images capturing the Hương Examination on the shut of the nineteenth century – an interprovincial tutorial contest as soon as held each three years to pick realized people for official posts. The different, hosted on the French Embassy, provides a glimpse into on a regular basis life in Việt Nam in the course of the Seventies and Eighties.

Beyond the exhibitions, Photo Hanoi ’25 provides a wealthy programme of hands-on actions. Workshops, talks and portfolio opinions are tailor-made particularly for rising photographers in search of to refine their creative voice, construct skilled networks, and entry regional and worldwide markets. These periods additionally present a helpful area for suggestions and mentorship from curators, consultants, and the general public.

A uncommon picture documenting the Hương Examination within the late nineteenth century – a triennial tutorial contest for choosing civil service candidates. Displayed on the Temple of Literature – Quốc Tử Giám. Photo photohanoi.com

Adding to the immersive expertise are parallel occasions that commemorate pictures as a tactile, process-driven artwork kind. Visitors can discover classic methods akin to moist plate collodion, lumen printing, and handmade photobook creation.

From crafting photographs with vintage cameras to experimenting with analogue processes, the general public is invited not simply to watch, however to take part – to interact with pictures as a dwelling, accessible, and culturally embedded observe.

As Hà Nội opens its doorways to the world by way of the lens of pictures, Photo Hanoi ’25 guarantees not solely to complement town’s cultural panorama but additionally to deepen its international connections – one body at a time. VNS