Vietnam in the 1970s-1990s through the eyes of French photographers

Exhibition within the framework of the Photo Hanoi '25 International Photography Biennale, organized by the French Embassy and the French Institute in Vietnam.

Photographer Daniel Roussel introduces his works. Photo: BTC

Daniel Roussel's photographs offer a rare glimpse into life in Vietnam from 1980 to 1986. As a resident correspondent for the daily newspaper L'Humanité, Daniel Roussel captured everyday moments in Vietnam with love and admiration. His work, combined with his writing and documentary filmmaking, has created a treasure trove of precious documents, celebrating the strong vitality of Vietnam in the post-war period.

The exhibition also features black and white photographs by Gilbert Bertrand, taken between 1970 and 1975 while he was working at the French Cultural Center in Dalat and Saigon. Although not a professional photographer, Bertrand’s keen sense and passion for photography inspired him to record important historical turning points. At that time, his works were never published, but to date they have been recognized for their timeless photographic values and historical significance, contributing to illuminating a special chapter in Vietnamese history.

Mr. David Bertrand - representative of the late artist Gilbert Bertrand, shares about his father's photos. Photo: BTC

“Vietnam Crossroads” also features Lily Franey’s emotional photographs, taken in 1987 during her work with the French Society for Popular Relief (Secours populaire français) in Vietnam. These photographs depict a country resurrecting from the ruins of war with idyllic scenes filled with hope. Through a deeply humanistic lens, Lily Franey infuses her work with warmth and delicacy, bringing a true and vivid picture of the will and daily life of the Vietnamese people during the period of reconstruction and renovation.

Artist Lily Franey shares at the exhibition. Photo: Organizing Committee

Speaking at the exhibition, Mr. Franck Bolgiani, Cultural Attaché, Deputy Director of the French Institute in Vietnam, shared, “Vietnam Crossroads” is not only a photography exhibition, but also a journey through time, a dialogue between perspectives and periods, between memory and transmission. From the 1970s to the 1990s, these three French photographers, each in their own way, recorded the faces, landscapes and emotions of a country in transition.

According to Mr. Franck Bolgiani, when exhibited together, the three photographic journeys create a common memory between France and Vietnam, full of understanding and mutual respect. The three artists, with their photos full of humanity, appreciation and emotion, show that photography, beyond its recording function, can also become a bridge between cultures, a universal language that connects stories and generations.

The exhibition runs until November 30.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/viet-nam-nhung-nam-1970-1990-qua-goc-nhin-cua-cac-nhiep-anh-gia-phap-722517.html