Culture
In order to understand the intricacies of Đạo Mẫu and its vibrant hầu đồng rituals , El-Sawy traveled extensively through northern Vietnam , attending ceremonies in Hanoi as well as Lang Son , Hai Phong , Bac Ninh , Vinh Phuc and Hai Duong provinces . The photographer flew back and forth from Vietnam , clocking a half-dozen two-week jaunts in total as he sought out different ceremonies and researched the ins and outs of this complex ritual , which can sometimes last for hours on end .
“ Although hầu đồng ceremonies follow the same structure , none are alike to each other ,” he says . “ The personalities of the mediums , the talent of the supporting musicians , the style of the costumes , the dance steps , the audience ' s enthusiasm all vary . So my experience varied from one to the other .”
In each performance , however , the photographer notes a few similarities , namely the mixture of patriotism and genuine joy invoked by this “ spiritual theater ”, as he calls it .
On a personal level , the appeal for El-Sawy was two-fold . “ Aside from realizing that I could be the first non-Vietnamese photographer to document the tradition … I was also intrigued by the complexity of its influences and manifestations ,” he explains .
“ I was also attracted by the absence of a structural hierarchy , and its focus on the ‘ now ’ rather than the ‘ later ’,” El-Sawy continues . “ This is a potent and practical message to people who seek to improve themselves during their lifetime rather than wait till they ’ re gone .”
As a fly on the wall in many of these ceremonies , El-Sawy was able to capture not only the performances themselves but also the reactions of the audience , who had sought out these spirit mediums as a means of resolving problems in their own lives . According to the photographer , each party feeds off the other ’ s energy and enthusiasm for the ceremony .
“ I think [ the photographs ] that have the strongest impression are those in which the mediums are deep in trance , awaiting the spirit ' s ’ ‘ arrival ’ and ‘ entering their bodies ’, or those of the audience members being ecstatic and experiencing euphoric reactions during these ceremonies ,” he says .
The MAG Vung Tau 17