In the eyes of women

Exhibition: 17-28 Apr
Vietnam Fine Arts Assoc, Hanoi

Photos by Cathrine Dolleris

Women in remote uplands of northern Vietnam carry their burdens with pride and dignity, despite a life of ingrained hardship and accelerating modernization. The emotions reflected in the portraits and scenes of daily life tell a story about the women of different ethnic groups with deep-rooted culture and traditions.

The exhibition is a celebration of this diversity, the strength of the women who built this country and the girls who will inherit the land. It is a tribute to the beauty of the women who toiled for their existence, families and country. The evidence is seen in the women’s features, the faith which glows in their eyes, the playfulness of their smiles, the sensuality of their look, their curiosity towards modern life, and the richness of a life connected to the land that sustains them.

The wealth of cultural diversity should be preserved – not for the tourism industry, but for the inner identity, experience and strength it represents. The empowerment of women from all walks of life should be enhanced to secure equal access to livelihoods, resources, education, and health while maintaining their unique understanding and contribution to the society in which they live.