The Unofficial Archive: Printed Materials From Vietnam

Description

Since 2016, out of personal interest and in a scavenger hunt manner, we at Matca have been building a collection of photography publications in and about Vietnam, prioritising works by Vietnamese nationals and including ones removed from the official narrative. Different types of photography, originally intended for different uses, were gathered, including books, catalogues, periodicals, prints and ephemera. As revealed by their discolouration and worn edges, many of these materials have lived interesting lives, recently retrieved from overseas or found via informal second-hand stores stacked alongside other vintage knickknacks.

Entitled The Unofficial Archive, this project presents a selection from the collection, divided into Books and Ephemera. Included are materials spanning photojournalism, fine art, and commercial photography, printed within and outside the country, including places like Hong Kong, Japan, and the Soviet Union. With dates of publication ranging from the 1950s to the present day, the selection encompasses a variety of issues and visual tropes through a pivotal moment in Vietnam’s national and photographic history as the country emerged from the aftermath of colonialism followed by the Vietnam War, known domestically as the Resistance War against America. Works and practices from this period continue to inspire explorations in recently published titles. Taken together, they demonstrate the varied roles that photography has played in Vietnam, from a nation-building device to a tool for self-expression.

After its debut at BoP Festival 2023 in Bristol, the catalogue is now available in both Vietnamese and English. An initial attempt to activate materials haphazardly amassed through the years, The Unofficial Archive remains open-ended with a view to sparking further public interest.

This project is supported by the British Council as part of the UK/Viet Nam Season 2023.

Produced by Matca
Publisher: Phu nu Viet Nam Publication
Year: 2024
Pages: 68
Size: 25 x 35cm
Language: Vietnamese and English
Print run of 300 copies