The exhibition introduces 55 documents and images captured and shared through the lens of Sofia Yablonska, a Ukrainian writer, photographer and filmmaker specializing in travel. Through the exhibition, the public will take a journey back in time, learning about moments of life, landscapes and people of Vietnam during the period 1930 - 1940, bringing deep understanding and emotions about a historical period nearly a century ago.
Delegates cut the ribbon to open the exhibition.
Speaking at the exhibition, Director of the Vietnam Women's Museum Nguyen Thi Tuyet said that the photos at the exhibition "Sofia Yablonska - Journey through the century" lead the public to follow the author on her journey to explore the land of Vietnam, where she and her family have had deep affection for during the 10 years of living.
With a delicate and respectful perspective, every place Ms. Sofia Yablonska set foot in Vietnam was recorded in visual language and personal feelings about history, culture and people. These are vivid images of Vietnamese landscapes in the countryside, associated with the simple daily life of the people, especially in remote areas where the Dao, Thai, Mong and Khmer ethnic groups reside, further demonstrating the friendliness, hospitality and diverse culture that have created the charm of Vietnam. Through that, the exhibition makes us feel more proud of the land and people of Vietnam that have captured the souls and feelings of many foreign artists, including author Sofia Yablonska."
Exhibition space
"Sofia Yablonska is an author, a woman with extraordinary willpower, a humane heart and a sensitive soul who has traveled across Vietnam to record wonderful historical memories so that today we have the opportunity to listen and feel a journey across the centuries. This reminds me of Vietnamese female artists who, with their talent and love for their homeland, have praised the people and this land in their own special ways, such as female poets Ho Xuan Huong, Ba Huyen Thanh Quan, Suong Nguyet Anh, Xuan Quynh,..." - Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet emphasized.
Sharing the life and career of Sofia Yablonska, Ambassador of Ukraine Gaman Oleksandr commented that the author was not only a brave traveler who dared to travel to new lands but also traveled around the world by herself at a very young age. In addition to being a talented artist, photographer, writer, journalist, model and documentary director, she is also a Ukrainian who cares deeply about women's views and voices. She pioneered in building new behavioral models for women, encouraging them to dream and act.
Appearance of Thang Long Imperial Citadel nearly a century ago
"Asia, especially Vietnam, holds an important place in her travels, her life and her heart. She was attracted by the vastness and beauty of the Mekong River, the splendor and palaces of Hue, and what she affectionately called "Hanoi of the heart". And Vietnam became Sofia's permanent address, where she returned after short trips. She loved to spend time in the mountains of Northern Vietnam, immersing herself in the local culture and customs, reminiscent of the beloved Carpathian Mountains back home" - said the Ambassador of Ukraine.
Coming to the exhibition, the photos lead the public to follow Sofia Yablonska on a journey to discover the land of Vietnam, where she and her family have had deep affection for 10 years of living. We can easily encounter scenes of rural life with vast fields and hard-working people, the majestic and wild beauty of Ha Long Bay or the strange yet familiar space of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Long Bien Bridge, Hoan Kiem Lake. The cultural diversity of ethnic groups is also recorded by Sofia Yablonska through the beauty of Thai, Mong, Dao Tien women and ancient Hanoians...
Image of Dao women
In addition to the black and white photos, the exhibition also explores the emotional depth of author Sophia Yablonska towards the landscape and people of Vietnam through shared lines from the diary "Distant Sky" recorded by her during her time here.
For Sophia, Vietnam appears as a magical, fascinating land to explore: "A strange land! There is so much beauty in it that is inaccessible and forbidden!"; "A few days later, I left that mountainous region and visited two ethnic groups, the Meo and the Mang. They have a language, costumes and customs quite different and interesting from the inhabitants of the plains… Living with them, I had everything to my liking. The Meo people brought rice, fish, wild game and vegetables to my house, came to help me with my work, brought saddled horses and showed me the way through the wild and fascinating mountains…"
Pictures of Vietnamese people's daily life
Visiting the exhibition, Mr. Nguyen Khac Mai (Hanoi) expressed his emotion when admiring the works. Through the photos, he could imagine Hanoi from the years before it was born.
"Vietnam in the past was a gentle country, with poetic landscapes and simple, honest people. We must thank the talented artist Sofia Yablonska for preserving these photos, so that the Vietnamese public today has the opportunity to admire them" - Mr. Nguyen Khac Mai expressed.
The exhibition "Sofia Yablonska - Journey Through the Century" will be open to the public until April 30 at the Vietnamese Women's Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi.
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