Japan through the lens of photographer Hai Thanh

The photo exhibition “Small Stories in Japan” is an event within the framework of the Photo Hanoi'23 International Photography Biennale initiated by the French Institute in Vietnam, and is also an event in a series of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam.

"Small Stories in Japan" by photographer Hai Thanh is a perspective on the lifestyle, people, and daily scenes from the author's personal experience while living and working in Japan. The series of photos taken in Japan by photographer Hai Thanh began when the author had the opportunity to visit this country for the first time with his family in 2016. The new experiences during his 6-month stay in a country with a long-standing and unique culture were the main reason why the author wanted to take photos to keep as personal memories.

Photographer Hai Thanh shared: "The 94 photos in this exhibition are personal perspectives and subjective opinions from the author's trips to Japan in 2016, 2018 and 2019. Those are experiences when he lived quietly and normally like a Japanese person."

The impression of the first visit to Japan made the author want to return, to see and learn more about the lifestyle, the urban landscape, the people who are full of images of order and logic, harmony and contrast in everyday scenes.

During his time in Japan, the author had the opportunity to take photos of several other places besides Tokyo, but the great impression was still on the capital, because no other place has such a diverse cultural color and is not framed by any formal expression.

"Through the exhibition, we will feel that besides the Japan that is often seen through the media with its typical beauty, there are many moments and landscapes that we can only see when we come to Japan. Life there is more diverse and colorful than we think. I want to share my experiences with viewers and if you have the opportunity, please come and feel it," said Hai Thanh.

A special thing about the exhibition that visitors are quite curious about is that there is no caption for each photo, only a general introduction to the exhibition. Because the author wants to borrow that context, that image of people, that landscape to direct back to the author's inner thoughts. Through that, viewers can ask questions and have their own answers.

Hai Thanh is an independent photographer from Hanoi, currently living and working in Ho Chi Minh City. He graduated with a BA in graphic design from the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts in 1996 and worked in the industry for a few years after that. Photography started out as a hobby but gradually became serious after he discovered it as a new platform for self-expression and a way to convey messages to society.

Hai Thanh became a professional photographer after a period of working as a freelance photojournalist for domestic newspapers and international media, especially when he had the opportunity to attend the Indochina Media Memorial Foundation (IMMF), an organization specializing in improving knowledge and skills in photojournalism for young Vietnamese photojournalists across the country, twice in 2007 and 2010.

Hai Thanh currently spends a lot of time organizing workshops for young people who are passionate about photography, both amateur and professional. Hai Thanh has had many group and solo exhibitions at home and abroad since he started his photography career in early 2000 until now.

The exhibition "Small Stories in Japan" is held from May 19 to June 4 at the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, 27 Quang Trung, Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.

Some pictures at the exhibition:

Phuong Thao is the Editor of Travellive Magazine. She is passionate about traveling and loves to capture moments with her camera in every land she visits. Travel, art, and lifestyle are her favorite writing topics.

Phuong Thao