9 is Pham Tuan Ngoc’s retrospective show, comprising an amalgamation of work he shot over the two years he spent living in Paris between 2008 to 2010.

Traversing the city, his perspective was in constant flux. He became enamored with the richness and vibrancy of life on the streets, and unlocked the photographic potential of his context by ensuring he was never without a camera. The black and white images Ngoc developed in Paris convey his unconditional love for the city and its inhabitants. His lens underlines both instances of connection and disconnect, moving from engrossed couples pressing pause on a transitory city to isolated protagonists fostering the fertility of solitude. Through this process of walking, watching, capturing and crafting, Ngoc’s work reconciles the fluidity of the flaneur to the rigidity of the analogue craftsman.

Shooting always in black and white, Ngoc offers intimate abstractions of long-frequented spaces. As the most visited city in the world, where tourist numbers vastly outstrip resident citizens, the city almost functions as a living museum, dedicated to itself. Pham Tuan Ngoc’s work questions if, and how, a unique relationship with Paris can be nurtured, and whether any love given can be love received.

DIRECTION & PARKING
199Bis Nguyen Van Huong is at the street’s 90° bend. Look for the River Restaurant and Noirfoto billboard, go straight inside; a restaurant occupies the left and Noirfoto is on the right.
Parking capacity: 10 cars, 100 motorbikes