The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam proudly presents the photo exhibition by Hai Thanh “While in Japan” from May 19 to June 4, 2023 in Hanoi. 

 This exhibition is an event in the framework of International Photography Biennale Photo Hanoi’23 initiated by the French Institute in Vietnam, as well as part of programs Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Japan and Vietnam (JF No. 15 event) 

 Hai Thanh is a Hanoi-born independent photographer currently based in Ho Chi Minh City. He got a bachelor’s degree in graphic design at the Hanoi Industrial Fine Arts University in 1996 and worked in the industry for a couple of years afterward. Photography in the beginning was just one of his hobbies, but with time, it became his key medium for self-expression and communication of his messages to society. After a stint as a freelance photojournalist for local and international news agencies and participating twice (in 2007 and 2010) in the Indochina Media Memorial Foundation (IMMF), an organization dedicated to improving photojournalism knowledge and skills for young Vietnamese photojournalists across the country, Hai Thanh became a professional photographer. Hai Thanh is now devoting much of his time to organizing workshops for amateur and professional young photography lovers. Since starting his photography career in the early 2000s until now, Hai Thanh has held numerous group and solo exhibitions in Vietnam and abroad to critical acclaim. 

 The series of photographs of Japan by Hai Thanh was taken when the artist visited the country for the first time in 2016 with his family, as a way to record his personal experience and memories during his six-month stay in a country with such a rich and distinctive culture. The strong impressions of his first visit propelled him to return to Japan, to observe and learn more about the lifestyle, the urban landscapes, the people going about their orderly and logical ways of life, and the harmonies and contrasts existing side by side in everyday situations. During his time in Japan, while taking photographs of several other places, the artist was most impressed by the capital city, with the unrivaled diverse and uninhibited nature of its cultural expressions. The photographs of the exhibition, hand-picked by the artist himself, give us a glimpse into his private and subjective perspective during his visits to Japan in 2016, 2018, and 2019. 

Exhibition Information:
Opening:        10:00, May 19, 2023 (Friday)
Open Time: Friday, May 19 to Sunday, June 4, 2023
                       9:00 – 18:00 (No closed days)
Venue: The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam 
              27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Free admission 

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Side event:  

Portfolio Review by Hai Thanh
Time: 15:00 – 17:00, May 21, 2023 (Sunday)
Venue: Exhibition room 
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi
Language: Vietnamese
Free registration: https://bit.ly/portfolioreviewbyHaiThanh  

 Contacts for further information: 
Mr. Osuka (ext 160) – Ms. Huong (ext 106)
The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam
27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi               TEL 024-3944-7419  
Email: jpfhanoi@jpf.go.jp
https://hn.jpf.go.jp/      https://www.facebook.com/japanfoundation.vietnam/