Parea: soulmates

inspired by a famous novel, Chi Pheo written by Nam Cao in February 1941

Based on the lives of some people living in Vu Dai Village, the novel focuses on Chi Pheo, a good farmer imprisoned because of tyrant landlord Ba Kien. After going to prison, Chi is deprived of his human appearance and his life becomes tragic. He turns into a desperate drunken man reacting to life with curses.

Then the scoundrel excluded from society falls in love with Thi No, the ugliest woman in the village, who kindly cooks him a bowl of onion rice soup when he is sick. The action touches Chi's heart and he seems to be reunited with his true good nature. However, the couple and their love aren't recognized and once again Chi falls into despair. He kills Ba Kien for revenge and then commits suicide.

As a Vietnamese, you have read or seen this story at least two times. To me, the satirical literature of Viet Nam in the 19th century, its value and meaning, as well as the life of Vietnamese farmers in the era; especially, the bond of Chi Pheo for Thi No.

Yet, in this photoshoot, my main goal is to express the craziness of Chi Pheo at that time into the present and the pure bonding of love and friendship.

That's why I named my photoshoot with just one word in Greek, Parea. This is a very special word and it actually makes me wonder why there is no equivalent in the English language.

παρέα : parea

Parea describes a close group of friends who gather together purely to enjoy each other’s company.

In their gatherings, the parea might share their experiences, their ideas or even memories they have collected together, but they also like to celebrate the joys of everyday life by eating, drinking, dancing and having fun. In other words, what is characteristic for the parea is the fact that they derive pleasure simply by being in each other’s company.

"I''m a bit of a loner. I'm too weird for a normal people and too normal for weird people. So I try to find friends with the same mental disorder, because it's priceless "