Yoga and nude art photos by artist Thai Phien were awarded the highest prize.

Sunshine Behind the Curtain, a photo book combining yoga with nude art by artist Thai Phien, has just won the 2025 Outstanding Photography Award from the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists - category of Critical Theory & Photo Book.

Good news has just come to artist Thai Phien in Hanoi when the work Sunshine Behind the Curtain   ( Through the Curtain, Sunshine ) was awarded the highest prize - silver medal (no gold medal), in the category of Critical Theory & Photo Book - Outstanding Photography Award 2025 of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists.

The work is published in both English and Vietnamese, is a collection of yoga photos combined with nude art (published by Vietnamese Women Publishing House), including 133 photos and 18 emotional articles about the author's creative journey.

Artist Thai Phien chose to focus on basic poses, finding creativity in light, composition and emotion, so that each photo tells its own story.

Photo series from the award-winning book Sunshine Behind the Curtain

Photo: THAI PHIEN

Sharing his feelings with his colleagues, NSNA Thai Phien said: "The moment I heard the news, the first thing I thought of was not personal joy, but the sweat, tears and painful grimaces of the models in this book - the wonderful yoga messengers. They are not just models. They are top yoga warriors, who have overcome their body's limits to create unique, beautiful and... dangerous asanas in front of the camera."

Sunlight behind the curtain: inspires freedom and spiritual strength

Regarding the birth of the award-winning work, according to NSNA Thai Phien: "The book was conceived during the days when Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City was socially distanced due to Covid-19. It was in that silence that I realized the value of optimism and the wonderful beauty that nature has bestowed on women through unique asanas in yoga. Sunshine behind the curtain was born like a small light that penetrated the darkness, lighting up hope and peace.

The work is published in both English and Vietnamese.

Photo: Publishing House

Artist Thai Phien

Photo: NVCC

It can be said that to have the unique works of art printed in the book, behind the 133 photos is a rigorous training process, long nights of pain, and the courage to overcome shyness and hesitation when undressing to fully devote to yoga and art.

Artist Thai Phien chose to focus on basic poses, finding creativity in light, composition and emotion so that each photo tells a unique story, touching the viewer's soul, not just stopping at the wonderful body that nature has bestowed upon women.

The book is not just a collection of nude yoga art photos...

...but also a message about balance, love and respect for human life, about extraordinary spiritual strength in the face of adversity.

Photo: THAI PHIEN

"I am sincerely grateful to these 15 brave female yoga instructors. Your physical beauty, soul and sacrifice are the endless inspiration that created this work. As a yoga enthusiast, I always seek to capture the beauty of the female body through asana movements that are both soft and contain inner strength. This journey is challenging, requiring delicacy to touch emotions. I believe that Sunshine Behind the Curtain will inspire freedom and spiritual strength and continue to touch the hearts of viewers," shared artist Thai Phien.

Other awards

The Gold Medal - 2025 Excellence Award of the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists in the Photography category was awarded to author Tran Le Huy (HCMC) with the photo series Metro Entering the New Era, and author Vu Ngoc Hoang (Hanoi) with the single photo Pride of the Vietnam Air Force .

On this occasion, the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists also admitted 23 new members and conferred the title of Outstanding Photographic Artist on 4 outstanding photographers (Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists): Nguyen Huu Thong (Bac Ninh), Le Duc Thanh (Quang Tri), Tran Nhan Quyen (Hanoi) and Vu Manh Cuong (Phu Tho).

In addition, there is 1 artist who was awarded the title of exceptionally excellent photographer (Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists) which is photographer Nguyen A and 23 artists were awarded the title ES.VAPA - photographer with outstanding contributions (Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists).

A photo from the Metro series Entering a New Era received a gold medal.

Photo: Tran Le Huy (HCMC)

The work "Pride of Vietnam Air Force" received a gold medal.

Photo by Vu Ngoc Hoang (Hanoi City)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/anh-yoga-va-nghe-thuat-khoa-than-cua-nsna-thai-phien-duoc-trao-giai-cao-nhat-185251113144746032.htm