Saigon
Photo exhibition by Megumi Asaoka
April 28 - June 1, 2018 FCCJ Main Bar
The first time I visited Saigon was in 2003 and I have returned a number of times since to photograph the city and its people. It has been a period of transition for this war-torn country. Buildings are on the rise with the Doi Moi (new change) Policy. It is particularly evident in the area around Ho Chi Minh City, which has been going through a major facelift. With a blank map, I traveled on the local buses and walked through the different communities. The area across the river was soon to disappear. Houses were falling into decay as tropical plants sought to reclaim the land. I could not stop from taking photographs. Everywhere corner I turned there was something that needed to be preserved on film before it was lost. Physically, much has changed since I first started traveling Ho Chi Minh, however many of its residences still refer to the city by its former name. For them, Saigon will always be Saigon. Behind the facade of lights and color that covers the city, daily life of the local people goes on much as it always has.
Megumi Asaoka Bio
"Blue Sky Blue"photo book 2003 "Blue Sky Blue" postcards book 2004
"Dogs, Cats & Humans 2" Movie, Poster and pamphlet 2014, etc.
"Dogs & Cats Stories Across the globe" Tokyo, Hyogo, Mimosa gallery 2009-2010
"BEYOND -from Ho Chi Minh City since 2003-" Nagoya, Arts gallery 2009
Nikon photo promenade "Cats in southern France" 2013 "Colors of the day in Northern Thailand" 2017
The Exhibition Committee