Sixty eight photos by photographer Vu Anh Tuan, featuring the spectacular Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago are on display at an exhibition, which opened in Hanoi on August 8.
Tuan’s photos are displayed in three parts: Landscapes, Soldiers at Work, Studying and Training; and Photographer's Sudden Moments.
Through the exhibition, the photographer wants not only to share with visitors his love for the archipelago, but also praise the landscape's beauty and the people's courage to protect the country's sovereignty.
Tuan, who has worked in the field for a long time and received prestigious titles from the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) and the Federation of International Artistic Photography (FIAP), never thought of putting on his own exhibition until he visited the Spratly.
"To organise a solo exhibition, a photographer needs a stable career, a budget and valuable works," Tuan said. "I have several photo collections but I wanted to wait until the day I had a really good inspiration to open a meaningful exhibition – and until I can afford it."
That day finally came when Tuan visited the Spratly in April. The people, soldiers and landscape in the remote archipelago inspired him to open his first solo exhibition called Cam Xuc Truong Sa (The Feelings of the Spratly), he said.
When he returned to the capital, he missed the residents and soldiers in Truong Sa and wanted to show mainland people how they have dealt courageously with their difficult lives.
"What impressed me most was the optimism and enthusiasm of the people and young soldiers on the remote islands," Tuan said. "They have an iron will and really overcome their difficulties."
"For people living in big cities like us, suffering a power cut for just a few hours is really uncomfortable," he said. "We can only imagine the life of people on a small island surrounded by the immense ocean."
Tuan’s exhibition will run until August 14 at Exhibition House, 93 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Hanoi. After the display, the photos will be donated to the Vietnam Naval High Command to raise awareness and instil patriotism in Vietnamese people.
Source: VOV online
