"Time and Cities": Photography as a Bridge Between People and Urban Environments

The exhibition brings together six artists from Vietnam and Switzerland: Le Nguyen Duy Phuong, Tran Vinh Dat, Bach Nam Hai, Beat Streuli, Matthieu Gafsou, and Alfio Tommasini. The project is the result of a curatorial photography research trip to Switzerland by artist-curator Le Nguyen Duy Phuong, with support from the Swiss Cultural Foundation Pro Helvetia.

Promoting art dialogue between Vietnam and Switzerland.

Combining photography and video, stillness and movement, "Time and Cities" raises questions about the relationship between people, space, and time in modern urban life.

Amidst the whirlwind of appointments and deadlines, time seems to be merely a tool for measuring the pace of life. But for the photographer, each journey, each street corner, opens up a new experience, allowing time to both pass and linger in the light, shadows, and breath of the city.

In the spirit of the exhibition, photography goes beyond mere documentation. It becomes a bridge, allowing viewers to perceive the transience and connection between people and the cities we call "home."

According to the Swiss Deputy Ambassador, Mr. Aldo de Luca, through this exhibition, the Swiss Embassy hopes to contribute to promoting dialogue between Vietnamese and Swiss artists, while also introducing to the Vietnamese public fresh perspectives on urban life and people in contemporary times. Through this, we hope to create a large-scale and meaningful platform for Vietnamese and international artists.

The exhibition features Beat Streuli, one of the leading figures in contemporary urban photography. Living and working between Paris and Zurich, Beat Streuli is a prominent figure in contemporary urban photography. Since the 1990s, he has created numerous works documenting the lives of city dwellers, where the boundaries between privacy and anonymity seem to blur.

Anonymous passersby, fleeting glances, the rhythm of the streets… these are recurring themes in his work. At the exhibition, artist Beat Streuli shared with Travellive reporters about a representative work photographed in New York over nearly 30 years: “This is a series of works I took in New York over a fairly long period of 30 years. I always choose to include this photograph in exhibitions because, to me, it is very typical. Interestingly, even after 30 years, almost nothing has changed. Many viewers try to find differences, but almost everything remains the same.”

This was his first time in Hanoi, and he expressed his excitement to "explore this city, not only as a photographer but also as an urban lover."

The research journey continues.

Curator Le Nguyen Duy Phuong said, "'Time and Cities' is a natural continuation of the research process he initiated in 2023. He expanded the subject matter after receiving a photography curation research scholarship in Switzerland from Pro Helvetia in 2025. 'I have to travel a lot between appointments across many cities, which is also why I continued to expand my research with the exhibition.'"Time and cities"This year," Mr. Phuong shared.

The exhibition contributes to expanding the network of artistic exchange between the two countries, while reflecting the spirit of cooperation of Photo Hanoi '25. This largest event on contemporary photography in Vietnam is attended by more than 170 international artists and experts, helping to build a bridge between international art and urban life in Vietnam.

With diverse perspectives on time, space, and urban people, "Time and Cities" is a must-see destination at Photo Hanoi '25. The exhibition will end on November 22, 2025. Come and experience the blend of international art and the rhythm of Vietnamese urban life.

Text and photos: Hai Anh