Circle of Life
Circle of Life
When I became old enough to observe the world in a clearer way, I also became burdened with many difficulties in life. In truth, the world is still the same! It only appears to change because of our feelings at the moment we viewed it.
As for myself, witnessing the last days of my father’s life flow by rapidly, I began to realise that time became more valuable when I spend them by my parent’s side.
Everyday that passes by is one day less that I will be able to spend with those that I cherish and love. The most valuable thing in our lives is the time that we are given. When I am unable to do anything to help my parents or society, I will still try to make the time that flow by to be more meaningful.
Within my busy life, I often ask myself: “Who am I? Where do I fit in life?”- Thus this project came to me like a child born from my desire to create the “average life” story through the language of conceptual photography.
The project “Circle of Life” was based on a story reflecting the past of the composer. The context of time, space and event…and the characters portrayed in order- “real memories”. Often they occur close to each other, or against each other in feelings….
Sai gon, 2013 – My family bowed and paid respect to the friends and relatives who had come to send my father to his resting place.
Sai gon 2013 – My mother made this shirt. My older brother was the first to wear it, I was the next (1983) – Nowadays, I cherished it as a reminder of my childhood.
China, 2004 – My father during a trip to China, to visit my grandparents. He is in this picture with my fourth great uncle.
Sai gon, 2013.
Sai gon, 2003 Tuan | Huy | Nguyen; my three nephews when they were one.
Just imagine saying goodbye forever to your love ones. Your world as well as your life suddenly become empty, an undefined space and time…after trying in vain to hold on to them, life no longer makes sense. Through these emotions, the composer and the viewer can relate their feelings through “Circle of Life”. The Harmony and Chaos within the parallel realms of Memory and Reality, serves to challenge their view on life as well as broadens it.
“Circle of Life” (published 2013) includes 62 pictures. Of the photographs included in this publication, the wedding photo (taken in 1965 at Chợ lớn, Vietnam) is my favourite. It represents the beginning of my life and many important concepts in this project. Future projects will follow on the story from “Circle of Life”.
Sai gon, 1965 – Looking at my parents wedding photos you cannot think they do not have money. My mother explained “that it was all rented; the cloths, the car and the house. Afterwards they were in debt”.
Sai gon, 2013 – My eldest brother and his wife are kind and friendly.
Sai gon, 1981 – My eldest brother took me to the Saigon Zoo ( Thao Cam Vien).
Circle of Life.
In “Camera Lucida”, Roland Barthes stated that a person looking at a photograph professionally would be able to understand the difference between what the photo is(a means of communicating visually) and what it represents (the way it affects the viewer through conjuring up emotional and spiritual feelings). To a certain point, “Circle of Life” is only a conceptual photography project aimed at evoking feelings of the viewers. Displaying this project in the form of a website is so that my personal message could be heard and responded to by those who have an interest in conceptual photography. I am always eager to receive feedback and criticism from those who visit this website.
Photographs & Text: Tran Thanh Tien, Vietnam
Website: http://vongdoi.
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