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A photographer's camera is like a writer's pen.
The red that Tin Phung brings to the "RED" exhibition is not just a simple color, but the vibrant, expressive red of traditional Vietnamese opera – a red that has permeated every mask, every costume, and even the fading cultural memories in modern life.
Tin Phung, a photographer born in 1987 in Saigon, began taking photos in 2008 and quickly made his mark with a vibrant and energetic visual language.
There's a photograph that sent shivers down the photographer's spine because of the beauty of the moment. It shows two artists almost facing each other, with the stage curtain slightly ajar behind them. The backstage space isn't as dazzling as the spotlight in front of the audience, but their half-closed eyes and bowed heads before the performance exude a profound and emotional stillness. The second photograph shows a young child of an actor in the troupe, nestled behind the curtain, intently watching the performers. The child's eyes are full of passion, as if absorbing a living legacy. Although traditional Vietnamese opera may no longer be as vibrant or widespread as before, this moment makes us believe that there are still young people who love the profession, and that this traditional art form can still be preserved for a long time.
The backstage area may not be as dazzling as the spotlight in front of the audience, but their half-closed eyes and bowed heads before the performance exude a profound sense of quiet emotion.
The baby's eyes were full of passion, as if receiving a living legacy.
Tín Phùng chose the art of traditional Vietnamese opera (Hát Bội) as the theme for his exhibition, RED, for two reasons. Firstly, he has a deep love for traditional cultural activities – where Hát Bội stands out as a distinctive art form rich in identity. Secondly, Hát Bội possesses many strong visual elements, especially the striking color red, which perfectly suits the main theme of this exhibition.
When Tín Phùng began photographing traditional Vietnamese opera (Hát Bội), what touched him most was the closeness to it, as this art form was intertwined with his childhood memories. His mother loved cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera), and in their small house, there was only one television for the whole family to watch the performances. His affection for traditional art thus developed naturally. Later, when pursuing photography, Tín Phùng realized that Hát Bội and cải lương were gradually being forgotten. He wanted to record these values, not only so that future generations would understand and appreciate them, but also so that those of his generation could see the beauty of their ancestors' culture.
When Tín Phùng started photographing traditional Vietnamese opera, what touched him most was the sense of closeness to it, as this art form was intertwined with his childhood memories.
For Tin Phung, photography is a tool for conveying images, much like a writer's pen. Through color, light, and moment, photographs can help viewers feel the essence and beauty of traditional Vietnamese opera: from the makeup and expressions to the performance space. That's how he believes photography can contribute to preserving and transmitting traditional cultural values that are gradually fading away.
Perfection lies in imperfection.
Looking at Tin Phung's works, one can easily recognize his preference for capturing chaotic, everyday scenes—things that are easily overlooked. A wall in the foreground has a few plastic chairs, next to a chicken coop. A plastic bag contains a few small fish swimming. A corner of a roof is obscured by a utility pole and a tangled mess of wires. The colors in Tin Phung's photographs often have high contrast, not only creating a powerful visual effect but also reflecting an interesting psychological depth: a man of few words and humble like him chooses to tell stories through dramatic and emotional images.
The male photographer was fascinated by the "behind-the-scenes" perspectives of life.
...a place without glamour or glitter, but filled with true and profound stories.
He describes himself as an introvert, meaning he tends to observe and listen more than he expresses himself. This quietness fascinates him, drawing him to the "behind-the-scenes" perspectives of life—places without the glitz and glamour, yet filled with genuine and profound stories. And it is this quietness in life that allows him to observe more subtly, to perceive more clearly the conflicts between light and shadow, between the dazzling stage and the simple everyday life.
For Tin Phung, perfection lies in imperfection. When faced with a chaotic scene, Tin Phung doesn't rush to take a picture. He takes his time to observe, to find a detail that truly moves him. Only when emotion is stirred by a particular moment in life does he decide to capture it, as a way of preserving beauty in chaos, authenticity in randomness.
He doesn't pursue a "perfect 10" photographic philosophy, but rather prefers imperfection, perhaps an eight or a nine out of ten. He believes that it is precisely this imperfection that creates a sense of continuity, making viewers feel the need to strive harder and improve. If everything were perfect, there would be no reason to make an effort. This is also what motivates him to return to his camera and continue his journey of discovery. In the process, he discovers random yet meaningful details, small pieces that help him tell stories and present a genuine slice of life to the viewer.
Following the traditional opera troupe
The color red in Tin Phung's photos often appears naturally. He explains: "Red is associated with the cultural roots of East Asians; it's the color of luck, vitality, intensity, and power. And it's also a symbol of the traditional Vietnamese opera stage."
As he got closer to the art of traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi), Tin Phung was captivated by many elements, from the makeup that gave viewers a more visual understanding of the characters, to the spiritual behind-the-scenes rituals such as ancestor worship and seeking blessings. However, during his work, details, situations, and emerging knowledge piqued his curiosity, forcing him to delve deeper to better understand hat boi. This research helped him discover many interesting details, which he then exploited to give his photo series more depth and clear documentary value – instead of just fleeting glimpses of light or color.
The color red is associated with the cultural roots of East Asian people.
He also paid particular attention to the personal lives of the artists. He shared: "Nowadays, traditional opera artists don't have as many opportunities to perform as they used to, and most still pursue the profession out of passion. They have to do many other jobs to make a living so they can continue to pursue traditional opera. Some sell lottery tickets, some work as factory workers or freelancers." For him, it's a difficult trade-off, but also a testament to their enduring love for the art.
These very things motivated him to document them, so that viewers could have a more comprehensive and engaging picture of this art form. Through his lens, Tin Phung saw the traditional Vietnamese opera stage as a vibrant world making a comeback. His goal when photographing opera was to record it as documentary photography. Therefore, he always photographed carefully, meticulously capturing each stage and the characters' portraits so that viewers could have a more holistic view of this art form.
Through the lens, Tin Phung saw the traditional Vietnamese opera stage as a vibrant world making a glimmer of hope for the future.
Two traditional opera performers are resting backstage.
Personally, I like the photograph of the two traditional opera artists resting backstage because it subtly portrays the everyday beauty of theatrical art. Although the colors in the photograph are vibrant, they evoke a sense of stillness in the moment. The natural, unarranged composition, with the figures lying and sitting interspersed among dangling costumes, creates spatial depth and a sense of subtle movement. Viewers are transported to the world behind the stage where art and life intertwine. The image of the artists in their vibrant costumes resting in a simple space also suggests a contrast between the stage and life, between symbolism and humanity, highlighting the humanistic nature and silent sacrifice of traditional artists.
The moment of rest in the simple setting also evokes the contrast between the stage and real life.
It can be said that traditional Vietnamese opera (Hát Bội) is a vibrant, sophisticated, and expressive theatrical art form, from its makeup and costumes to its performance movements. However, with the passage of time and the changing entertainment habits of modern society, Hát Bội is gradually fading away, becoming a faint memory in the minds of many. In this context, the documentary photographs of photographer Tín Phùng are not only a careful record of an art form that quietly continues to exist, but also an effort to preserve a part of the soul of national culture. Through each frame, he recreates a theatrical world that is both brilliant and fragile, where passion, memory, and reality intertwine, allowing viewers to feel, understand, and appreciate the value of Hát Bội in contemporary life.
The documentary photographs of photographer Tín Phùng are not just a careful record of an art form that quietly exists.
