Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale Series:

Throughout November (from November 1st to 30th), the Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale will feature over 50 exhibitions and art events spread across Hanoi.

The increasing participation of domestic and international artists, with their unique portrayals of life through their lenses, further fuels expectations of Hanoi becoming a creative photography hub in Asia.

Visitors view the photo exhibition as part of Photo Hanoi '23. Photo: Organizing Committee.

Stories told through images.

Organized under the patronage of the Hanoi People's Committee and the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports, the Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale (hereinafter referred to as Photo Hanoi '25) is jointly implemented by the French Institute in Vietnam, with the support of the United Nations Educational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a network of domestic and international partners.

According to Bach Lien Huong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports , Photo Hanoi '25 is the result of the synergy and connection between organizations, units, and individuals both domestically and internationally, with the desire to bring quality photographic art closer to all levels 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 a large number of artists and experts.

Throughout November, the public can immerse themselves in 22 solo and group exhibitions, along with 29 side activities such as film screenings, workshops, seminars, book launches, art tours, etc., at various locations across the city. More than 170 visual artists, photographers, curators, and experts from Vietnam and 20 countries including France, Germany, the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland, the USA, Japan, China, Cambodia, etc., will present over 2,000 works.

True to the spirit of "art for the public," the exhibitions and events of Photo Hanoi '25 took place in iconic spaces of the capital such as the Exhibition House at 45 Trang Tien Street, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, the Cultural and Arts Center at 22 Hang Buom Street, 2 Le Thai To Street, 49 Tran Hung Dao Street, and other familiar locations such as the French-Vietnamese Institute, Japan Foundation, Casa Italia, Long Bien Art Space, etc. Notably, many activities were also held outdoors in public spaces such as Dien Hong Flower Garden, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam National Monument, or the facade of the French Embassy building, helping photography integrate into urban life.

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

Hanoi - The City of Photography

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

Photo Hanoi '25 is a major gathering place for the photography community, where Vietnamese artists have the opportunity to stand alongside international peers 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 the contemporary rhythm of the capital's residents. 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 dialogue.

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

“From surveying the operational systems of art 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 around the world,” said artist Nguyen The Son.

Artists believe that Photo Hanoi is gradually becoming an "international touchpoint," attracting more and more international artists, curators, and professionals, becoming a meeting place for photography enthusiasts from both within Vietnam and abroad, contributing to affirming its title as a "Creative City" alongside a "City for Peace".

According to Éric Soulier, Counselor for Cooperation and Cultural Activities and Director of the French Institute in Vietnam, this year's Biennale is not just a purely cultural event, but also the result of 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 establish itself as one of the major international photography festivals, on par with Les Rencontres d'Arles, Paris Photo, or Visa pour l'Image (France); while also possessing its own unique identity, stemming from Vietnam's creativity and open-mindedness to the world.

Affirming Hanoi's special interest in gradually building the Photo Hanoi International Photography Biennale into a leading cultural and artistic event of regional and international significance, the 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 carrying out cultural initiatives under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Through diversifying artistic creations and promoting international cooperation, Hanoi aims to become a creative center for photography in Asia, contributing to promoting the image of a dynamic, open, and culturally rich capital city.

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