Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale Event Series:

The increasingly enthusiastic participation of domestic and international artists, with unique life stories expressed through the lens, adds to the expectation of making Hanoi a creative center of photography in the Asian region.

Visitors visit the photo exhibition within the framework of Photo Hanoi '23. *Photo: Organizing Committee*

Stories told through pictures

Held under the auspices of the Hanoi People's Committee and the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale (Photo Hanoi '25) is jointly organized by the French Institute in Vietnam, with the accompaniment of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a network of domestic and foreign partners.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Bach Lien Huong said that Photo Hanoi '25 is the result of the resonance and connection between organizations, units and individuals at home and abroad, with the desire to bring quality photography closer to all classes of the public and tourists who love Hanoi.

According to the Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, this year's Biennale is larger in scale, has a clearer international stature, and attracts the participation of many artists and experts.

Throughout November, the public will be immersed in 22 solo and group exhibitions and 29 sideline activities such as film screenings, seminars, talks, book launches, art tours... at many locations in the city. More than 170 visual artists, photographers, curators and experts from Vietnam and 20 countries including France, Germany, England, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, Ireland, the US, Japan, China, Cambodia... will introduce more than 2,000 works.

True to the spirit of “art for the public”, the exhibitions and events of Photo Hanoi '25 take place in iconic spaces of the capital such as the Exhibition House at 45 Trang Tien, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, the Cultural and Art Center at 22 Hang Buom, 2 Le Thai To Street, 49 Tran Hung Dao Street, etc., and familiar locations such as the French Institute in Vietnam, Japan Foundation, Casa Italia, Long Bien Art Space, etc. In particular, many activities are also held outdoors in public spaces such as Dien Hong flower garden, Hoan Kiem Lake, the National Monument of the Temple of Literature or the facade of the French Embassy building, helping the art of photography blend into the rhythm of urban life.

Here, stories about historical memories, urban landscapes, the relationship between humans and nature, or global issues such as climate change are told through the creative perspectives of artists. Highlights of Photo Hanoi '25 include the exhibition "Vertical Landscape" with the participation of European and Vietnamese photographers; an exhibition by a group of young Southeast Asian artists on the impact of climate change; an exhibition introducing images of the Huong exam in the late 19th century; an exhibition exploring Vietnam in the 1970s and 1980s...

Hanoi - City of Photography

The Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale will bring to the public and photography community many exciting activities this coming November. *Photo: Organizing Committee*

Photo Hanoi '25 is a major meeting point for the photography community, where Vietnamese artists have the opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with international friends right in the heart of Hanoi. The event contributes to making photography a vibrant part of daily cultural life, present in every street corner, public space, and in the contemporary life of the capital's people. With Photo Hanoi '25, photography is not only a means of exploring the world or preserving memories, but also a forum for creative practices and dialogues.

As a curator accompanying two Biennale seasons, artist Nguyen The Son - lecturer at the School of Interdisciplinary Sciences and Arts (Hanoi National University), Head of the Department of Artistic Photography shared that preparations for Photo Hanoi '25 began right after the end of the 2023 season.

“From the surveys of the operating system of artistic photography activities in French cities, to attending the annual Photography Festival in Arles (France), we have gained more experience, confidence and motivation to move towards the goal of integration, making Biennale Photo Hanoi a part of the network of professional photography festivals in the world,” said artist Nguyen The Son.

The artist commented that Photo Hanoi is gradually becoming an "international touchpoint", attracting more and more international artists, curators and experts, becoming a meeting place for domestic and international photography lovers, contributing to affirming the title of "Creative City" alongside "City for Peace".

According to Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities, Director of the French Institute in Vietnam, Éric Soulier, this year's Biennale is not only a simple cultural event, but also the result of many years of cooperation, dialogue and mutual trust between France and Vietnam. Looking at the scale and efforts of the Vietnamese and international teams, Mr. Éric Soulier expressed his belief that in the near future, Photo Hanoi will affirm its position as one of the major international photography festivals, alongside Les Rencontres d'Arles, Paris Photo or Visa pour l'Image (France); at the same time, it will have its own identity, originating from Vietnam's creativity and openness to the world.

Affirming the special interest of Hanoi city in gradually building the Photo Hanoi International Photography Biennale into a typical cultural and artistic event of regional and international scale, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports Bach Lien Huong emphasized that the implementation of Photo Hanoi '25 demonstrates Hanoi's strong commitment to implementing cultural initiatives under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Through diversifying forms of artistic creation and promoting international cooperation, Hanoi aims to become a creative center of photography in Asia, contributing to promoting the image of a dynamic, open and culturally rich capital.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chuoi-su-kien-biennale-nhiep-anh-quoc-te-photo-hanoi-25-gop-phan-quang-ba-hinh-anh-thu-do-720961.html