Hiep Duong Chi

#2 min Hiep Duong Chi

1. 9. 2023

Hiep Duong Chi, That time I wished I was a white butterfly, 2021
Hiep Duong Chi, That time I wished I was a white butterfly, 2021
Fotograf zone Futures talentsIdentity

That time I wished I was a white butterfly

That time I wished I was a white butterfly reflects the impressions and hardships I encounter as a descendant of immigrants. Seemingly different from the rest of society, I still have to deal with judgmental looks and prejudice, even though I was born and raised in the Czech Republic. In my childhood, it was difficult for me to understand that I just didn’t fit in. Then, as a teenager, the natural desire to belong to a certain group manifested itself. That’s when Czech-Vietnamese people usually start to become more interested in their roots – but for various reasons, they may not find their way in. I’m still standing at an important crossroads: I have to choose which way to go and where I belong.

Hiep Duong Chi was nominated to Futures Talents by Fotograf Zone in 2024. 

Co-funded by the Creative Europe program of the European Union, FUTURES is a platform to increase the capacity, mobility and visibility of it's selected artists and to bridge the gap between emerging and established artists.

 


IMAGES CAPTIONS

All images: Hiep Duong Chi, That time I wished I was a white butterfly, 2021

Fotograf zone Futures talentsIdentityMigrationSocietyIntimacyMemoryNarrative

Hiep Duong Chi

holds a BA from the Institute of Creative Photography in Opava, was born in Děčín, Czechia. Photography formed part of his life from the very beginning – his grandfather ran a photography studio in Vinh, Vietnam, where his mother took photographs before she moved to the Czech Republic in the 1990s. His own work began along the lines of classic documentary photography, exploring notions of family, the Vietnamese community, or following events that caught his attention. During the pandemic, the artist instead began arranging, staging and creating still-lifes and portraits. In this work, he touches on the realities of life as a second-generation Vietnamese immigrant – That time I wished I was a white butterfly combines references to traditional customs with his own inner feelings.  

Fotograf zone

Rencontres d’Arles 2025

#6 min Markéta Kinterová

Rencontres d’Arles 2025

Fotograf zone Review

The Rencontres d’Arles Festival is the world’s oldest photography festival and probably also the most visited. As its name suggests, it is an opportunity for encounters. Alongside the official program, dozens of spontaneous events, initiatives, and exhibitions emerge, both official and unofficial, transforming the town into a vibrant cultural organism. This year, I had the opportunity to experience the Rencontres d’Arles Festival through the eyes of someone who moves between their own artistic and pedagogical practice and above all as someone who believes that photography has the power not only to depict but also to shape the social context.

Robert Gabris – Acts of Provocation and Self-Protection or the Power of Prohibition and Taboos

#2 min Laura Amann, Robert Gabris

Robert Gabris – Acts of Provocation and Self-Protection or the Power of Prohibition and Taboos

#48 About MeProfileLGBTQ+

Robert Gabris’ practice confronts viewers with a provocative exploration of domesticity, queer identity, and societal marginalisation. Keenly aware of the dangers of exoticisation and institutional exploitation, Gabris navigates the complexities of representing Roma life while paying homage to his culture, family, and their lived experiences. This strategic artistic endeavour confronts the harsh realities of systemic discrimination and neglect faced by Roma citizens, while also interrogating notions of inclusivity and identity politics as well as ways of giving back to Roma people instead of providing mere representation.