` Ben * 24
╱ Vietnam
╱ Vietnam
Khá Bảnh ╱ Quite Cool
Khá Bảnh / Quite Cool, 2023. Chromogenic print. Installation view at the 9th World Biennial of Student Photography 2023 exhibition, Academy of Arts, Novi Sad, Serbia, 2024
In 2017, Khá Bảnh, a Vietnamese internet persona, became a phenomenon for flaunting a lifestyle filled with criminal activities, displaying wealth, and, most notably, seeking attention. He became a widely discussed topic for many years, with his impulsive actions and the gossip surrounding him and his girlfriend, mostly met with mockery and ridicule. Some even imitated him, viewing him as an icon of a certain lifestyle and fashion sense.
In an attempt to recreate this lifestyle, I cast a young boy in the role of Khá Bảnh and a young girl as his girlfriend, starring in various scenarios. The reckless lifestyle, ostentatious fashion choices, and readiness to pose are key traits defining Khá Bảnh and his associates. I also set up a flat backdrop with familiar images of Vietnamese nature to evoke his rural roots, placing this within an ordinary urban living space where I live. Some photographs include a photographer, or what I personally perceive as a ‘standard’ member of society. These images represent my contemplation on the role of a photographer in portraying minority groups (in this case, Khá Bảnh and the community he epitomizes) and also my attempt to share a focal point with Khá Bảnh and individuals related to him as a way for me to perform a form of collaboration between the subject and the photographer.
The context is designed to resemble a casual photoshoot among friends, emphasizing the playful and indulgent nature of Khá Bảnh and the act of imitation as I question the allure of emulating his behaviour and reflect on how this aesthetic appeals to a segment of Vietnamese youth, introducing a reflective perspective on Khá Bảnh as a source of inspiration beyond mere satire. The work brings together my longstanding concerns—from fair representation and alternative ways of interpreting a subject often dominated by mass narratives, to the boundaries between reality and personal perception. Positioning Khá Bảnh as the subject of my work allows me to view him more objectively while offering my commentary on his significant influence on today's generation.
What makes dressing and behaving like Khá Bảnh so “cool” to a particular group of youngsters? Are these behaviors a reflection of deeper societal issues, or are they simply an expression of individual freedom and rebellion in Vietnam?
And the name Khá Bảnh means “quite cool” in Vietnamese.
—
This work was chosen and presented in a group show as part of The 9th World Biennial of Student Photography 2023 competition, hosted by the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, Serbia. It was also my first completed photography-based work. For more information, click here.
Fashion Direction: Ngọc Khánh; Project Managing: Aiden; Photograph Assisting: Moka; Logistics Assisting: Quang. Modeling: Luci and Phúc.
And special thanks to chị Trang Thy, chị Mắt Bét, anh Kapu, Lâm Trần, Trâm Anh, Percy, Trixie Gia Hân, Đức Xứng, chị Ngọc, chị Lan Anh, anh Việt Anh and Vũ Minh for helping me make this project happen.
Work , Exhibitions , Bio