"Vietnam - Journey of Memories" - Artwork connecting French-Vietnamese culture

"Vietnam - Journey of Memories" does not tell the story in chronological order but is an emotional journey, divided into three regions: North-Central-South.

According to a VNA reporter in Paris, in the atmosphere of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, on the evening of August 12, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Fragrance and Color Association in Paris, a special bilingual photo book was officially launched to the overseas Vietnamese public and French friends.

Titled "Vietnam - Un voyage mémoriel" , the book is not only a collection of ordinary photo stories, but also a unique cultural bridge between Vietnam and France, created by French writer and photographer Dominique de Miscault and Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha - a researcher of Vietnamese culture.

The book launch ceremony took place in a warm and solemn atmosphere, with the participation of many overseas Vietnamese, international friends, artists, researchers and people who love Vietnamese culture.

The highlight of the ceremony was the performance of "Tien Quan Ca" - Vietnam's National Anthem, performed by pianist Anna Kavalerova, creating a solemn and emotional atmosphere, expressing respect for the sacred values of the nation.

Talking about the context of the book's birth, Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha expressed her desire to "do something meaningful to celebrate the important event of the year." For her, this is not only a personal art project, but also a deep gratitude for the 80 years of heroic history of the country, since the day President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence, at Ba Dinh Square, September 2, 1945.

French photographer and writer Dominique de Miscault first visited Vietnam in 1992, when the country was slowly opening up after the US lifted its embargo. Unlike many other visitors, she did not come with a big project or specific plan, but with “a clear feeling: Vietnam was waiting for me.”

In the book's Foreword, she shared emotionally: "I was not born in Vietnam. But every time I come here, I feel like I'm returning." From her first steps on Hanoi's Old Quarter, across Long Bien Bridge, to the labor markets, she began to "listen to Vietnam with both her eyes and her heart."

Dominique de Miscault, French photographer and writer, co-author of the photo book "Vietnam - A voyage of memories". (Photo: Thu Ha/VNA)

Over the past three decades, Ms. Dominique has returned to Vietnam many times, not to "work" but to live with the silent movements of the country. She takes photos to preserve the most authentic and ordinary Vietnam, not flashy, not staged, but small but profound moments: a look, a sitting posture, a quiet rhythm of life.

In her words, "Each photo is a mirror of memory, reflecting a country that is changing every day but still preserving its own soul."

The authors said the meeting between the Vietnamese cultural researcher and the French photographer took place in Paris on a winter afternoon. When Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha first saw Dominique de Miscault's photos, she realized that "a unique cultural story was conveyed in each frame."

Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha recalls: "I listened, not only as a writer, but with the heart of a Vietnamese living far from home, moved by the way a foreigner loves his country with a delicate gaze and rare respect."

From there, the two decided to collaborate to create a book in which "images, emotions, and dialogues support and complement each other." Their goal was to preserve and spread the mystical, profound beauty of Vietnamese culture through the lens of art and humanity. The process of making the book took many months, from selecting photos, arranging them by theme, writing commentary, translating into two languages, to editing and publishing.

According to Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, one of the biggest difficulties is that "the documentary photos are quite old, so finding photos of good quality to print is not easy." In addition, carefully considering between artistic elements and cultural information, between image quality and simple but profound words also requires meticulousness and patience.
Although they come from two distant countries, "the trust and understanding between the two aunts and nieces helped everything go smoothly."

The biggest advantage is that both have a deep love for Vietnam, each in their own way. Photographer Dominique de Miscault loves this country as a part of his inner life, and Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, as a cultural researcher, finds it even more precious when the fading heritage is preserved through the respectful lens of a foreign artist.

"Vietnam - Journey of Memories" does not tell a story in chronological order but rather an emotional journey, divided into three regions: North, Central and South. Each photo is accompanied by a bilingual commentary, creating a dialogue between images and words, between personal and collective memories.

From familiar images such as the photo of Uncle Ho in every Vietnamese home, the sacred flag-raising ceremony at Ba Dinh Square, to Long Bien Bridge - a symbol of time and memory, the book records a Vietnam that is changing but still retains its own soul.

In particular, the book also records unique cultural features such as the Then ceremony to dispel bad luck of the Tay people in Lang Son , the life of coastal fishermen, or simple but poetic everyday moments.

Through Dominique's perspective, Vietnam appears not as a tourist destination or a majestic land, but as a space of memory, simple, everyday, quiet and profound. As she shared: "I take pictures so as not to forget. Not to forget a Vietnam that is simple but profound, quiet but kind."

At the launch, many guests shared their deep feelings about the book. Khanh Van - a young reader born in Vietnam, but who came to France at the age of 4, shared that the book "really brought back very emotional and nostalgic memories for me... Reading this book helped me reconnect with my roots and this is a very touching book that I highly recommend everyone to read."

Mr. Slawomir Broszkiewicz, a Polish friend of Dominique de Miscault, who has known her for 30 years, highly appreciates the artist's talent and passion: "Dominique is a successful artist, a well-rounded artist... She is an indispensable figure on the Paris art scene, in introducing Vietnam, but not a highly institutionalized Vietnam, but a very ordinary Vietnam, which not everyone knows about."

He stressed that through his contact with Dominique, he had the opportunity to "understand a little about the country's complex history, as well as the people, concerns and art world of Vietnam."

Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, a Vietnamese cultural researcher, co-authored the photo book "Vietnam - A journey of memories". (Photo: Thu Ha/VNA)

Sharing with VNA reporters in France, the authors hope that the book will not only reach Vietnamese and French readers, but also be present in libraries, museums, and schools to become a vivid and familiar document introducing Vietnam. They especially hope to help the young French generation better understand the depth and diversity of Vietnamese culture. The book also contributes to introducing an artistic and humanistic perspective on Vietnamese culture to the international space, as a way to spread the voice of Vietnamese culture around the world.

The book is also the result of the Vietnam Quintessence Association, which was established to promote Vietnamese culture in France, preserve and share traditions and secrets that create Vietnamese beauty. According to Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, as the founder of the association, she felt the need to create a link between her past in Vietnam and life in France, and at the same time support Vietnamese culture for Vietnamese children born in France.

"Vietnam - Journey of Memories" is not only a photo book, but also a testament to the power of art in connecting cultures, erasing geographical boundaries to create lasting bridges of souls.

In the context of globalization today, works like this are of particular importance in preserving and promoting national cultural values, while expanding the international vision of Vietnamese culture. As French writer and photographer Dominique de Miscault said: "Vietnam, to me, is not only about war, but also about calmness, inner strength, and a quiet love for what they have chosen to believe in"./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/viet-nam-hanh-trinh-ky-uc-tac-pham-nghe-thuat-ket-noi-van-hoa-phap-viet-post1055357.vnp