A photo by Hoang Minh Trang. (Photo courtesy of Matca) Under the project, a photography exhibition entitled Things That Count is beingheld displaying works that are a part of online collaboration between studentsfrom the Photography Department of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp,Belgium, with young Vietnamese photographers.
The 10-week project was held from March and May to divide the photographersinto pairs to discuss important current issues in modern society.
Ten values include family, safety, gender, heritage, humour, intimacy, freedom,power, knowledge, and faith.
“What struck me most was the immediate openness and trust that the participantshad in each other,” said Bert Danckaert, associate professor of Photography atthe Royal Academy of Fine Arts, who spearheaded the project.
“The project seemed to generate an injection of hope facing another continent,a virtual bridge between two cultures. Looking back, I think the most importantand 11th value is that of trust.”
In times of COVID-19, existential questions are posed to young people who arenow facing an uncertain future.
Each week, the participants dealt with an assigned value, which they firstdiscussed in pairs, then provided each other with inspiration, and finallyexpressed their personal opinion of the value in question in one photograph.
The resulting images and fragments of the written communication between theparticipants were published online, where perspectives were shared andfriendships developed.
At a time when social contact is severely limited, Things That Count sends ahopeful signal by creating an international network among upcoming artists andreflections on what is considered valuable today.
The exhibition is being held in Hanoi by Matca Space for Photography and theEmbassy of Belgium in Vietnam from June 25 to July 7./.
VNA
