Through centuries, one of the most symbolic elements of a Vietnamesevillage has been its gate. However, the image is fast disappearing dueto rapid modern urbanisation.
One way of keeping the image alive is via photography – an idea artistQuach Dong Phuong started playing with around 20 years ago.
Hisefforts have culminated in an exhibition entitled Cong Xua (Old Gates),consisting of nearly 700 photos taken of typical village gates innorthern Vietnam, which opened in the capital city on Nov. 18 on theoccasion of the National Cultural Heritage Day, which falls on Nov. 23.
"Villagesin the north usually have a main gate and one leading to the ricefields alongside minor gates demarcating lanes, hamlets and houses. Manyhave disappeared however," Phuong said.
"Gates differ dependingon typical village features. A major trading village such as Cu Da (inHanoi) would have a sizeable gate while more scholarly villages such asChem and Ve would have their gates engraved and decorated."
Unlikenormal photo exhibitions, Phuong utilised wooden planks and 700 squareboxes covered in black-and-white images, some including traditionalpaint, depicting village gates to create an atmosphere of discarded oldpostcards.
"By using paint, I wanted to add the ‘colour of time'to some photos to offer a glimpse of the past," he said. "A gate is theface and symbol of a village, behind which lie the culture andtraditional customs of Vietnamese people."
Phuong added that he plans to print a set of photo reference books based on traditional Vietnamese village gates.
"It is a way to preserve our ancestral heritage amid fast changing socio-economic development."
Following the exhibition, Phuong plans to put 1,000 Mong ethnic minority faces on display.
"Throughmy trips to the north of Vietnam during the past 20 years I noticedthat traditional ethnic minority costumes have been much altered. I'vebeen particularly fascinated by the architecture, costumes and cultureof the Mong."
The current exhibition, Phuong's third and largestsince 2000, will run until mid-December at Dong Lac Temple, 42-44 HangBac Street./.