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Photographic artist Lai Dien Dam introduces his photographs to
visitors.
Old
Vietnamese people say that “Each person has his own character” and
“Looking at someone’s face we can know what kind of person he is”. This
way of guessing is correct when we see the photographs taken by Lai Dien
Dam, a small man with gentle voice. He always takes photos of people’s
daily activities, especially in rural areas.
Lai Dien
Dam has gone to many places, even remote mountainous areas to record
familiar images of life. Seeing his photographs, people recognize that he
has creativity and expertise in reflecting the animated and busy life of
people living in all parts of the country.
At his exhibition “Countryside” held recently in
Hanoi
, 60-year-old
Lai Dien Dam presented 60 black and white photographs which he has taken
since 1982, of them many has been awarded domestic and international
prizes. Most of his works reflect sincerely and lively the life in rural
areas, notably the images of a girl visiting the field, mother and child,
old women preparing pieces of betel and areca nuts during a village
festival, fetching water from the well, etc… The photographs which reflect
the activities in the old residential quarter and scenes in mountainous
areas are also very attractive, such as Ta Van valley in
Sa
Pa,
Lao
Cai
Province
. “Countryside” in the
photographs taken by Lai Dien Dam looks plain and peaceful. Photographic
artist Dinh Quang Thanh said: “Seeing Lai Dien Dam’s photographs,
everybody seems to be wandering in a rural area and contemplating the
beautiful landscape. His photographs bring the feeling of quietness, peace
and gentleness. He is always in a trip to look for the beauty, mingling
himself with the photographs and stirring up the viewers’ flame of love
for the country”.
Lai Dien
Dam confided that he loves all people and directs the lens at them because
they represent the homeland.
Some
of Lai Dien Dam’s works on display at the
exhibition:
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Waves of rice.
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Early sunshine over Sa Pa.
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Ha Long Bay.
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On the salt marsh.
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Each inch of ground is an inch of gold.
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The age of the full moon.
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Photographic artist Lai Dien Dam was born in 1948 in Nam
Dinh. He has been awarded such noble titles as “Best Photographic
Artist” by the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP)
in 2002 and “High-Grade Excellent Photographic Artist” by Vietnam
Association of Photographic Artists (FIAP) in 2007. Also, he has
been awarded the medal “For the Cause of Vietnamese Photography”. He
is now living and working in Hanoi. |
Story by
Vuong Mo - Photos by Dien Dam, Hoang
Chuong | 
