The flavors of the city through the lens of Mat Dat.Ng

ảnh đường phố - Ảnh 1. — Photographer Nguyen Van Hai explains the meaning of the photograph to the viewers - Photo: TTD

On May 23rd and 24th, photographer Nguyen Van Hai (alias Mat Dat.Ng) held a photo exhibition titled "Street in my pocket" at IDECAF, Ho Chi Minh City.

A journey of "gathering" street memories.

The exhibition features 23 street photographs taken by Mat Dat.Ng between 2024 and 2026, capturing glimpses of urban life and the essence of street scenes both domestically and internationally.

Through his emotionally rich camera angles, Nguyen Van Hai gives viewers the feeling of being present in the very moment captured. Some photos make viewers laugh, while others evoke childhood memories.

The old alleyways, the rainy afternoons, the images of street vendors… all become material for his photographic creations.

Photographer Mat Dat.Ng said: “Street photography helps me experience life in its many colors and forms; everyone has their own story. A photographer who empathizes with their subjects will take good photos and understand their own inner feelings.”

What I appreciate most about street photography is that it helps me realize that life doesn't always need to be "glamorous" or extraordinary to be valuable. Ordinary, familiar images are still worth paying attention to.

That's also why he's been involved in street photography since 2009. For him, photography is also a way to take care of his mental health amidst the stressful pace of urban life.

ảnh đường phố - Ảnh 2. — Visitors viewing the "Street in my pocket" photo exhibition - Photo: TTD

Beautiful street photos don't depend on expensive cameras.

Photographer Nguyen Van Hai believes that the most important thing in street photography is not the camera or technique, but the ability to observe, feel, and capture the moment, because all movement on the street happens very quickly, in just a split second.

"To create impactful photographs, you need to find something unusual within familiar things. I often observe contrasts such as old and young, old and new, crowded and empty, stillness and movement… These contrasts tell many stories about the interplay between the city and its people without needing much explanation," he added.

Some images from the "Street in my pocket" photo exhibition - Photo: TTD

The photographs in this exhibition utilize a variety of contrasting colors and a blend of dynamic and static images, creating a vibrant feel reminiscent of everyday life in a film.

On this occasion, he also launched his photo book "Street in my pocket," which includes 56 selected works from thousands of photographs.

As part of the exhibition, on the morning of May 24th, there was a Q&A session with photographers Adrien Jean and Chu Viet Ha revolving around the theme "What do you take with you when you leave the street?".

Nguyen Van Hai currently works as a teacher. He has won awards and had his works selected for exhibitions both domestically and internationally, including exhibitions in Tokyo last March and April. His photo book, "Street in my pocket," is published by Dong Nai Publishing House.