Chiron Duong is showcasing portraits of Vietnamese youth, while film screenings such as “The Rubber Tappers” and “Sing Your Song Boy” reveal rich cultural narratives.
Chiron Duong has taken a systematic and organized approach to portraying the youth of Vietnam today. He asked each of his models, all different, to come to his studio with two types of clothing – the ones they wear daily to grab a coffee or meet friends, and the ones reserved for more formal events like cocktails, concerts, or artistic gatherings. He also asked them to answer a twenty-point questionnaire to form a more precise opinion of them. The questions were often surprising, such as “which painting would you like to destroy or burn? Describe a chair that doesn’t exist or a mask you would like to wear.”
He then had his subjects pose, asking them to move, throw small objects while illuminating them with stroboscopic flashes to break down the movement and create, in a rather random way, dynamic compositions. This is how he proceeded with his series on “Ao Dai”, the traditional Vietnamese dress that he published in 2023 in a book titled “Hope for Peace and Love.”
Born in 1996, Chiron Duong did not initially aspire to be a photographer and studied to become an architect and landscaper at the University of Ho Chi Minh City. He continues to work in these fields, but since 2017, he has been interested in photography and quickly gained recognition in the fashion industry, which is his professional activity. He was awarded the Picto Fashion Photography Prize in France as early as 2020, and then in 2022 by the 37th edition of the prestigious Hyères Festival of Fashion and Photography, before receiving the Photo Vogue Italy Prize in 2022.
This project on youth is a reflection on identity as manifested through clothing and questions whether it corresponds to an inner, profound reality. It is an inquiry into the conscious and unconscious behaviors of this Vietnamese youth.
There will be four screening evenings on November 21, 22, 23, and 24. Here are some highlights of this exceptional program:
The first film by Moeung Rotha: The Rubber Tappers (Les Saigneurs). 20 minutes
In Ratanakiri, a province in northeastern Cambodia, an 11-year-old boy named Khlek lives in a rubber plantation where his parents, belonging to the ethnic minority of Kroeung, work as rubber tappers. But where does this huge burnt tree lying in the middle of the plantation come from? The answer Khlek finds is far more complex than it initially seems.
Rotha Moeng, a Franco-Cambodian artist, is a filmmaker, producer, and gallery owner who splits his time between Paris and Phnom Penh. His journey reflects the rebirth of Cambodia since the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime 44 years ago. He has been involved in various artistic activities, collaborations, and productions that capture the essence of Cambodia’s societal changes and transformations.
Another film screening is “Sing Your Song Boy” by Italian documentary filmmaker Massimo Nicolaci. This 25-minute film tells the story of two friends, Lorenzo Castore and Michael Ackerman, who embark on a journey to India to create a work that combines their similarities and differences in vision and mentality. The documentary explores themes of friendship, artistic and life choices, and the opportunity to learn while traveling with someone who shares similar needs.
The lineup also includes a video from photographer and filmmaker Sohrab Hura titled “The Coast, 2020,” which focuses on seaside scenes and bathing after religious festivities in Tamil Nadu. Hura highlights humanity’s relationship with nature and challenges binary ways of thinking about the world, presenting a protagonist in search of new ways of being.
These films and portraits offer a unique perspective on cultural identities and histories, inviting viewers to delve deeper into the complexities of youth, friendship, and the human-nature connection. Through a blend of storytelling and visual art, the Phnom Penh Photo Festival promises to be a thought-provoking and immersive experience for all attendees.
