CULTURE AND SPORT

French photographer promotes ethnic cultures

July 01, 2017 - 06:57 PM

40 photographs featuring the rich diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic cultures through the eyes of a French artist are being displayed at an outdoor exhibition in the central town of Hoi An.

A photo of a 79-year-old boat rower Bui Thi Xong in Hoi An was one of the first that Réhahn captured for a project called ‘Hidden Smile.’

The exhibition, titled Precious Heritage, is the result of six years of travels through most provinces of Vietnam by French photographer Retrace Réhahn. He has met 45 of the 54 ethnic minority groups in the country and he is presenting here, portraits of those who carry century-old traditions that compose the rich diversity of Vietnam’s ethnic cultures.

Pride in their culture can be seen in the eyes of old O Du, Ro Mam and Dao women posing in their traditional costume, and the cheeky smiles of the young generation who represent the hope for passing on of tribal customs and knowledge.

According to the photographer, all the people pictured wear their traditional costumes which he hopes can help preserve their precious heritage.

"We're losing precious heritage every day," Réhahn said. "Some groups I met in Vietnam have only a few hundred people left. And only old people can speak their own languages or make their traditional costumes. We can lose them one day if we don't do anything to preserve them. And for me, this would be a disaster if we lose cultures that have been developed over centuries."

The artist suggested that the best way to preserve the cultures of the ethnic groups is to help them walk out of their community and introduce their cultures to the world.

"I always believe that cultures can help us build a better world and everyone should be proud of their cultures and try to preserve as their precious heritages," Réhahn stressed.