About the Series:
Wandering in The Shadows was my first ever color photography series. I made this during my first semester at Brooks School with the guidance of my photography teacher. It was a great experience that helped me break out of my shell as a photographer. What I found most valuable is that I learned how to express feelings through art.
Artist Statement:
These pictures are taken in my home town of Hanoi and they show who I am as a person. I realized my intentions through a process of experimentation, discovery, and refinement. This has allowed me to take control of my intuition without limiting its subconscious reach. The sense of isolation reveals the comfort afforded by the quiet moonlight. “Wandering in the Shadows” has become a way for me to claim my independence from a pattern of preordained hobbies and interests imposed on me since childhood.
The recurring theme of darkness with subtle and soft light shows the beauty in the dark. The darkness serves its purpose of creating a space and mood for the subject to shine brighter. The darkness at night with calm lights gave these pictures a somber and mysterious tone. The light’s purpose in these pictures is not only to illuminate but also a symbol of self-acceptance. I find beauty in the dark and hidden spots of Hanoi in moments you can only see as a voyeur. In a sense, my thoughts are also like these photos. For a long time, dark thoughts were recurrent, but through time, I find the most beautiful things in the dark.
These alleyways, railways, and tunnels are always void of people, so the beauty of these sights are explored by the public eye. These claustrophobic and dark alleyways are ephemeral sights to bypassers, but to me, these alleyways and tunnels are where I find the most comfort and beauty. The city of Hanoi is composed of alleyways and deep crevices, but people disregard them and only look towards the new open roads. I want to use my photos as a medium for people to find beauty in areas that seem uninviting at first glance.
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