Images of Vietnam in the 1930s

The exhibition features 55 documents and images captured and shared through the lens of Sofia Yablonska, a Ukrainian writer, photographer, and filmmaker specializing in travel . Through the exhibition, the public will embark on a journey back in time, exploring moments of life, landscapes, and people in Vietnam during the 1930s and 1940s, offering profound insights and emotions about a historical period nearly a century ago.

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the exhibition.

Speaking at the exhibition, Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum Nguyen Thi Tuyet said that the photographs in the exhibition "Sofia Yablonska - A Journey Through the Centuries" lead the public to follow the author on her journey of discovery in Vietnam, the land where she and her family have developed deep affection for the past 10 years.

With a refined and appreciative perspective, every place Sofia Yablonska visited in Vietnam was captured through visual language and personal emotions about its history, culture, and people. These vivid images of Vietnamese landscapes in rural areas, connected to the simple daily lives of the people, especially in remote regions inhabited by the Dao, Thai, Hmong, and Khmer ethnic groups, further highlight the friendliness, hospitality, and diverse culture that make Vietnam so captivating. Through this exhibition, we feel proud of the land and people of Vietnam, which has captivated the hearts and minds of many foreign artists, including Sofia Yablonska.

Art exhibition space

"Sofia Yablonska is an author, a woman with extraordinary willpower, a humane heart, and a sensitive soul who embarked on a journey across Vietnam to record wonderful historical memories, giving us today the opportunity to listen to and feel a journey through centuries. This reminds me of Vietnamese female artists who, with their talent and love for their homeland, have celebrated the people and land in their own unique ways, such as the female poets Ho Xuan Huong, Mrs. Huyen Thanh Quan, Suong Nguyet Anh, and Xuan Quynh..." - Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet emphasized.

Sharing about Sofia Yablonska's life and career, Ukrainian Ambassador Gaman Oleksandr remarked that the author was not only a courageous traveler who dared to explore new lands, but also traveled the world on her own at a very young age. Besides being a talented artist, photographer, writer, journalist, model, and documentary filmmaker, she was also a Ukrainian deeply concerned with women's perspectives and voices. She pioneered the development of new behavioral models for women, encouraging them to dream and act.

The appearance of Thang Long Imperial Citadel nearly a century ago

"Asia, especially Vietnam, holds a significant place in her travels, her life, and her heart. She is captivated by the vastness and beauty of the Mekong River, the splendor and palaces of Hue, and what she affectionately calls 'Hanoi in a wistful way.' And Vietnam has become Sofia's permanent residence, the place she returns to after short trips. She enjoys spending time in the northern mountains of Vietnam, immersing herself in the local culture and customs, reminiscent of the beloved Carpathian Mountains back home," said the Ukrainian ambassador.

At the exhibition, the photographs guide the public on a journey of discovery through Vietnam, the land where she and her family have developed deep affection for the past 10 years. We easily encounter scenes of rural life with endless fields and hardworking people, the majestic and unspoiled beauty of Ha Long Bay, or the familiar yet unfamiliar landscapes of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Long Bien Bridge, and Hoan Kiem Lake. Sofia Yablonska also captures the cultural diversity of the ethnic groups through the beauty of Thai, Hmong, and Dao Tien women, and the people of old Hanoi…

Images of Dao women

Besides the black-and-white photographs, the exhibition also explores the emotional depth of author Sophia Yablonska's feelings towards the landscapes and people of Vietnam through excerpts from her diary "Faraway Land," which she recorded during her time there.

For Sophia, Vietnam appeared as a wondrous land, full of allure to explore: "A strange land! There are so many inaccessible, forbidden beauties within it!"; "A few days later, I left that mountainous region and visited the Hmong and Mang ethnic groups. They had languages, clothing, and customs quite different and interesting compared to the inhabitants of the lowlands… Living with them, I had everything I wanted. The Hmong brought rice, fish, wild game meat, and vegetables to my house, helped me with my work, brought saddled horses, and showed me the way through the wild and fascinating mountains…"

Everyday life images of Vietnamese people

Visiting the exhibition, Mr. Nguyen Khac Mai (Hanoi) expressed his emotion upon admiring the artworks. Through the photographs, he could visualize Hanoi from the years before it was even born.

"Vietnam in the old days was a peaceful country with picturesque landscapes and simple, honest people. We must thank the multi-talented artist Sofia Yablonska for preserving these photographs, so that the Vietnamese public today has the opportunity to admire them," Mr. Nguyen Khac Mai expressed.

The exhibition "Sofia Yablonska - A Journey Through the Centuries" will be open to the public until April 30th at the Vietnam Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Source: https://toquoc.vn/chiem-nguong-hinh-anh-viet-nam-giai-doan-1930-1940-qua-lang-kinh-cua-nhiep-anh-gia-nuoc-ngoai-20240417221355109.htm