Portraits of Áo Dài (Hope For Peace And Love)

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jan 8

Vietnamese photographer Chiron Duong embarked on his project ‘365 days with Áo Dài’ to showcase the beauty and rich cultural relevance of Áo Dài – a traditional Vietnamese dress. The resulting images are rich in colour, emotions and show us a modern Vietnam that many haven’t seen like this before.

Photography Chiron Duong

Many of my foreign friends asked me about Áo Dài, a special traditional dress from Vietnam. Realising I had very few pictures of it, I initiated the ‘365 Days with Áo Dài’ project, capturing its unique blend of traditional and modern values. Over the past few decades, many designers have tried to innovate and reinvent Áo Dài. Many of them ended up a disaster in my opinion and some of them fell into cultural appropriation.

“Áo Dài, for me, signifies the rustic, simple, and seductive essence of Vietnamese women, laden with memories.”

Áo Dài, for me, signifies the rustic, simple, and seductive essence of Vietnamese women, laden with memories. Beyond a national dress, it embodies a rich history, cultural traditions, aesthetics, national consciousness, and the spirit of the Vietnamese people. Despite societal changes, Áo Dài remains a beautiful symbol of national pride. The soft, gentle beauty is exemplified by its high neck, soft round shoulders, and graceful sleeves. The models, predominantly friends of mine, don’t have the features of professional Asian models and some stood in front of a camera for the first time.

“I strive to convey the mysterious sentiments of Asian life with its folklore and traditional beliefs. My instrument is photography: I strive to offer my audience pictures whose colours, materials, emotions, and technique manifest the interference of Eastern, especially Vietnamese and Western culture.”

About Chiron

Chiron Duong (Dat Duong b. 1996) graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture and is a fashion and fine-art photographer in Vietnam. His biggest inspiration is the culture of Vietnam and Asian cultures in general.

“I’ve explored (these cultures) and learned a lot from my research: The Asian colour palettes are not only extremely vivid and uplifting, but they are also liberating, delightful, and they have so many stories to tell.”

Awards and recognitions:
– The Picto Prize for Fashion Photography 2020, France
– The 37th Hyères Festival 2022, France
– Photo Vogue Festival 2022, Italy

To see more of his work, visit his website or follow him on Instagram

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Portraits of Áo Dài (Hope For Peace And Love)

“Áo Dài, for me, signifies the rustic, simple, and seductive essence of Vietnamese women, laden with memories.”

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