May 05, 2017 / 16:47

Vietnam through the lens of Italian photographer

Vietnam is now closer to Italy than a map would suggest, thanks to a photographic exhibition entitled ContrAddiction, Vietnam Living Country, in Udine City, Italy.

National treasures: The Italian photographer poses in his exhibition entitled ContrAddiction, Vietnam Living Country. The exhibition depicts the simple, peaceful and ordinary life of Vietnamese around Vietnam.

The exhibit comes as part of the Far East Film Festival, the most important Asian film festival in Europe. Each photo displayed in the exhibition is depicts simple, peaceful and ordinary life in Viet Nam, from the north to the south.
For instance, it shows a mother sitting with her son on a hammock, an ethnic man going to work in the early morning with his buffalo, and a father carrying his son on his shoulders. Those photos are the fruits of Italian photographer Dario Tommaseo’s five monthlong visits to the country since 2014. Dario's photographic style is truthfully reflected through his works exhibited in ContrAddiction, Vietnam Living Country.
Accompanying him closely in capturing every moment of contraddictions in Vietnam is a full frame reflex Canon camera, and in line with his stylistic choice, he strictly uses a fixed wide-angle lens. Unlike other photographers, who apply photographic techniques to enhance their final works, Dario makes no adjustment to his photos, keeping them as original as possible.
His five visits to Vietnam were filled with unforgettable memories with the local people, whom he has considered as his close friends.
Besides taking photos, the Italian photographers also joined many local charity events. In his last two visits, he brought along some school supplies collected and bought in Italy for the schools in remote northern Vietnam. He also took part in a charity trip to central Vietnam that was suffering from a historical flood to provide necessities like medicine, food and clothes.
Dario is currently working on a photographic book about daily life in Viet Nam, and he plans to live and organise photo tours in Viet Nam in late October and early November for both foreign tourists and Vietnamese. The tours will enable the participants to learn photography while exploring the beauty of the country.
The 42-year-old photographer's passion was formed during his 18-years of work as arts and creative director in international advertising agencies in Italy and Spain. Taking up the craft last decade, Dario has had his works featured in several Italian and Spanish magazines and renowned publishing houses.
He has also been invited to exhibit his photos in many arts events in Italy and Spain, like “Argentina: ieri e oggi” event in Milan in 2013 hosted by the Consulate of Argentina, or an exhibition for “Fotofesta" in Barcelona, Spain in 2008.