Exhibition 'Time and Cities' - a contemplation on the rhythm of urban life

On the evening of November 3, at the Long Bien Art Fair, Hanoi , the Swiss Embassy introduced the exhibition “Time and Cities”. The exhibition is part of the activities of the Photo Hanoi'25 International Photography Biennale, supported by the Swiss Cultural Foundation Pro Helvetia.

“Time and Cities” is an interesting meeting between 3 artists from Switzerland (Beat Streuli, Alfio Tommasini, Matthieu Gafsou) and 3 Vietnamese artists (Le Nguyen Duy Phuong, Tran Vinh Dat, Bach Nam Hai), and is also one of the ideas born after Le Nguyen Duy Phuong's research trip on photography curation in Switzerland.

The public visits the exhibition. Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper

According to curator Le Nguyen Duy Phuong, the hectic pace of urban life, often dominated by appointments and deadlines, has reduced time to a mere tool. For many urban dwellers, the subtle experience of the flow of time gradually becomes blurred in the daily grind.

However, the nomadic life of a photography practitioner offers contrasting perspectives. As they move between cities and document diverse cultures and environments, they encounter a range of different experiences of time.

By combining photography with video , stillness with movement, this exhibition explores the relationship between space and time from multiple perspectives. These contrasting elements, when placed together, reveal the fundamental law of human life, from birth, growing up, working and dying is a journey that is always consistent, regardless of geographical boundaries.

Time, in this visual narrative, finds its point of reference in humanity itself – a constant defined by the relationship between the ever-shifting sands of time in the urban landscape and the temporality of life.

Photography thus moves beyond the role of observation, becoming a bridge for us to actively participate in and appreciate the beauty, transience, and connection of time with the cities we call home.

Each photograph transcends its function as a record, becoming a profound reflection on the human place in the urban flow. They remind us that, amidst the chaos of the city, there are always stories waiting to be told, moments unfolding, and precious memories forming.

Through the work of six photographers, the exhibition invites viewers to reflect on our connection to time, space and ourselves.

The exhibition will run until November 22, 2025.

Source: https://congluan.vn/trien-lam-thoi-gian-va-nhung-thanh-pho-mot-chiem-nghiem-ve-nhip-song-do-thi-10316473.html