Ho Chi Minh City through the aesthetics of photography and painting

Pride of Ho Chi Minh City

Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, every street and corner is so familiar, but artist Ngo Thi Thu Ba still diligently and carefully records every simple moment here.

Touching images such as: mass wedding, spring bus, lucky house, split rice grain...; or images of modern constructions, developed infrastructure such as: Saigon River tunnel, Metro; preserved relics such as: Ben Thanh market, Thu Ngu flagpole, City Post Office..., are fully expressed by artist Thu Ba and other authors of Hai Au Photography Association (under Ho Chi Minh City Photography Association) through the photo book Pride of Ho Chi Minh City.

Images of modern Ho Chi Minh City by artist Ngo Thi Thu Ba

Artist Thu Ba shared: “It is because of my pride and emotion about my hometown that I chose to name the photo book Proud of Ho Chi Minh City. Every street corner, every smile, every look here carries a story, and I feel happy to be able to use photography to tell those stories, honestly and emotionally. I believe that when you look at everything with emotion and love, even the most ordinary things become special and soulful in the frame.”

In the process of creating, NSNA Thu Ba always finds new perspectives for things that are too familiar. The female photographer often uses natural light at special times such as early morning or sunset to create depth or exposure techniques. NSNA Thu Ba is especially interested in camera angles: “I often lower or raise the angle of view, or choose asymmetrical - unconventional compositions, to create surprise and novelty for the viewer…”.

Artist Thu Ba expressed about the images of festival activities in the city in the photo book: “Although not as ritualistic as in some rural areas, the dynamism, closeness and ease of integration make the festivals in Ho Chi Minh City have a very unique color, gentle and full of humanity. For me, the important thing is not the pomp, but the genuine emotions that the festival brings to the community - and that is also the cultural value that Ho Chi Minh City is quietly preserving and promoting every day”.

Overhead Road

Still with today's urban perspective, the image of the city through the oil painting Elevated Road makes viewers impressed by the beauty of the Metro line with modern elevated sections, creating a strong visual impression.

Sharing the inspiration for the work, artist Nguyen Trong Hoan expressed: “When observing the Metro line from above, I was attracted by the straight rails heading towards the horizon, the electric poles, railings and strong infrastructure, both decisive and full of rhythm. That image reminded me of a symbol - not only a modern traffic project, but also the image of a city that is constantly developing, but the core value is still the connection, the mindset of people in that flow…”.

In the process of creating the work "Highway", the most difficult stage that the artist spent the most time on was the composition and lighting. Because the Metro line is a project with a very strong structure, many technical details, straight and symmetrical lines, how to reproduce the correct proportions, create spatial depth and at the same time maintain artistic emotions.

“I spent a lot of time observing reality, taking notes, taking photos and choosing the right moment of light, when the city began to be dyed in the pale yellow of dawn, just warm enough, while also evoking a sense of stillness and contemplation. Then came the process of drawing, meticulously with each railing, each shadow, each rail, so that the space was not only correct in form but also vivid in feeling. Perhaps the most difficult thing was not the technique, but keeping the work “soulful”, so that viewers could see not only a building, but also the spirit of a city moving forward”, artist Trong Hoan shared.

According to the artist, the work “Highway” was made with oil paint because this is the material that best expresses the depth of space, the shades of light and the subtle changes of atmosphere. The different thicknesses of each layer of paint, as well as the depth of color, not only recreate the image of a Metro line, but also depict the atmosphere, time and nuances of the city at that moment.

BLUE

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tphcm-qua-my-cam-nhiep-anh-va-hoi-hoa-post790669.html