Photo Exhibition “The Pink Choice” by Vietnamese Photographer in Tokyo
Exhibition: 08 Jun – 04 Aug 2013
Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography
“The Pink Choice” is an exceptional collection of photographs capturing daily activities as well as private moments of several homosexual couples in Vietnam.This photo series is a project by Maika Elan (Nguyen Thanh Hai), who has a sociology background but has been a professional photographer since 2006.
With her first documentary photography project “The Pink Choice”, Maika has not only shown her sharp eyes and perfect photography skills but also addressed one of the burning issues in current societies, rights for the homosexual.
Voicing about a global concern, the photo album was awarded 1st prize under category ‘Contemporary Issues, Stories’ by prestigious World Press Photo Contest in early 2013 and has been touring around the world since.
The collection is currently exhibited in Tokyo together with other World Press Photo Contest winners. See full event schedule by World Press Photo here.
Artist’s statement and a few photos in the collection come below:
“I want to tell the story by going into the great depth of love and intimacy. I want to avoid stereotypes of homosexuality. I also want to avoid the tabloid/shocking news style. I want to show simply how they care and love each other in daily activities. More strongly, I want to show that their loving and caring for each other is nothing deviant. They are all normal and natural behaviors, attitudes, thoughts and emotions.
Love is beautiful, and we can only claim ourselves supportive of homosexuality when we accept their love – and see it beautiful as it naturally is!”
– Maika Elan –
“The pink choice” was also exhibited in Goethe Institut Hanoi in November 2011.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Tran Van Chuc (right) and Nguyen Van Dung have been together for over a year
Hanoi, Vietnam
Doan Huu Dieu (left) and Nguyen Trong Hieu, who have been together for three years, wake up at home
Saigon, Vietnam
Hung selects music to play, as he and Ngan relax at the end of the day.
Da Nang, Vietnam
Phan Thi Thuy Vy and Dang Thi Bich Bay relax at the end of the day watching television. They have been together for a year.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hung (right) looks on as Nam, rests after a work accident. They have been a couple for four years.
Saigon, Vietnam
Ngan teases Isabelle about the sort of underwear she likes. They have been in a relationship for four years.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Bao Quynh, is given a kiss by her partner’s son from a previous marriage, and Trinh Hien. All three have lived together in Hanoi for more than four years.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Hieu takes a bath with Thang. They have been partners for eight years.
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Phan Ngoc Hai Ly does Pham Thao Huyen’s toenails. They have lived together for nearly five years.
Saigon, Vietnam
Hai and Tien, a couple for 13 years, smoke and chat on their balcony. They have lived with HIV for over a decade.
Hanoi, Vietnam
Vu Trong Hung and Tran Van Tin have been together for two years.
See more photos in the album The Pink Choice
| Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography 1-13-3 Mita Meguro-ku, 153-0062, Tokyo, Japan +81 332 80 0031 Monday: Closed Tuesday – Wednesday, Saturday – Sunday: 10.00 – 18.00 Thursday – Friday: 10.00 – 20.00 |
