When photography is a cultural 'bridge'

Last weekend, at Hiep Ninh communal house (Tan Ninh ward) and Botum Kirirangsay pagoda (Khedol pagoda, Binh Minh ward), the bustling drumbeats of the lion dance and the strong, decisive movements of the Khmer dance became a special setting that attracted dozens of photographers to explore the unique cultural colors of Tay Ninh land. Through each frame, the heritage is recorded and retold with a new, intimate and emotional perspective.

Many photographers and photography enthusiasts joined a workshop in Tay Ninh with the theme of dragon dance and lion dance.

That was the workshop coordinated by Mr. Nguyen Tan Tuan (photographer Tuan Nguyen). Mr. Tuan Nguyen said: “When Canon Vietnam offered to support a short-term phototour (combining tourism and photography) in the provinces surrounding Ho Chi Minh City, I immediately thought of Tay Ninh - a land that converges the vibrant cultural colors of the Kinh, Khmer, Chinese, Cham communities,... We chose lion dance and dragon dance as the theme of this workshop not only because of the appeal of the colors, movements, and sounds, but also because these are long-standing cultural heritages, closely associated with the festival life and beliefs of the people”.

Under the roof of Hiep Ninh communal house, which is over 120 years old, the young members of Doan Lam Vu Lion Dance Troupe meticulously create a colorful lion head. In the tranquil space of Khedol Pagoda, the traditional dragon dance art of the Khmer people is vividly depicted. The harmony between the ancient space and the traditional cultural beauty exudes the historical depth, spiritual value and identity of the land.

“I want to put each dance form in its proper space, so that the photographer can not only take pictures but also feel the spirit and story behind it. This is a cultural experience journey, helping participants feel the context, story and spiritual value behind each frame,” said Tuan Nguyen.

The workshop program is designed into 5 sets of photos, spanning from early morning to evening, each set is a separate story. The beginning is the rustic scene of the lion head making profession and the festive atmosphere filled with colorful lion dances. In the afternoon, light and photography techniques are challenged through the Motion Blur technique (motion blur technique) to capture each streak of light after each movement of the lion dancer. Closing the journey is the Light Painting technique - using long exposure times to record moving light sources, drawing colorful arcs around the subject. Each moment is a combination of photography techniques, light and cultural stories vividly recreated.

This is the first time Mr. Nguyen Thanh Cuong (born in 1992, residing in Tan Ninh ward) has participated in a photography workshop like this. As the admin of the Tay Ninh in me fanpage with nearly 300,000 followers, Mr. Cuong sees this as an opportunity to share images imbued with the culture of his homeland with the community: “I learned more skills, especially about light, composition, and shooting angles when exchanging with my colleagues. Traditional cultural topics that are difficult to access, now arranged by my colleagues to capture truly precious moments, are truly precious. I hope there will be more similar activities so that the beautiful images of Tay Ninh can be closer to everyone through photography.”

With the new photography theme, many photographers from all over also come to Tay Ninh. Although they have to travel to many locations and work under the hot sun, everyone is still excited and passionate. Ms. Vuong Bich Hoa, from Hanoi , has participated in several workshops in Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City,... But when she came to Tay Ninh, she was deeply impressed by the uniqueness of the lion head making profession.

“I really like traditional craft villages but I am also afraid that one day they will disappear. I want to take photos to preserve and promote the craft villages, help more people know about them and give more motivation for those who are keeping the profession to continue,” Ms. Hoa expressed.

Mr. Tran Van Truong (living in My Hanh commune) has been involved in photography for 11 years. He said that the reason for coming to the workshop was to take photos of the dance of the dragon, a topic that he had never had the opportunity to exploit. Mr. Truong shared: “Previously, when I had the opportunity to visit An Giang, I saw images of the dance of the Khmer people but had not taken any photos. This time, when I saw the activity of taking photos of the dance of the dragon, I took the opportunity to go immediately. Through the photo session, I not only had more works but also understood more deeply about the history and culture of the nation. Each frame in the workshop carries the story of a piece of Tay Ninh culture. It is not only a product of photography techniques but also a resonance between the passion for creation and the love for heritage, to bring the image of Tay Ninh to everyone.”

After the workshop, the participants left with a satisfactory photo collection. But it does not stop there, they themselves will be the “bridges” to spread traditional beauty further and wider; so that the treasure of cultural heritage continues to be preserved and promoted./.

Hoa Khang - Khai Tuong

Source: https://baolongan.vn/khi-nhiep-anh-la-cau-noi-van-hoa-a200623.html