HCMC – A three-day pop-up exhibition in An Phu Ward, HCMC, from September 11 to 13 highlighted the lives of marginalized communities, showcasing projects by Italian photographer and World Press Photo winner Fulvio Bugani on Cuba’s queer community and Indonesia’s transgender Muslims.
The exhibition presented S/He – Cuban Queer Community and Waria: Being a Different Muslim, both using portraiture to give voice and visibility to people living outside dominant narratives. Bugani said photography should celebrate the diversity of perspectives and offer space for independent voices.
Bugani said the exhibition was intentionally kept simple, with images displayed without captions so viewers could engage directly before hearing more context in his presentation. He emphasized that while captions are essential in photojournalism, exhibitions can also leave room for interpretation and reflection.
He is now turning his lens on Vietnam’s queer communities while also documenting social and environmental challenges such as overfishing. “Vietnam is full of very interesting stories, and I would like to tell them and give these stories an international view,” Bugani said.
In 2023, he presented “SICILY” in Hanoi with 20 photographs depicting life and solitude on the Italian island, marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Italy.
