The Precious Heritage Art Gallery Museum is the culmination of 7 years of exploration by Réhahn. The 500m2 museum is free and translated in 3 languages (French, English and Vietnamese)
WHAT IS THE PRECIOUS HERITAGE MUSEUM ?
The PHAG Museum, home to Rehahn’s permanent exhibition of his Precious Heritage Collection, will transport you to the farthest reaches of Vietnam. Unveiling a rich cultural tapestry of ethnic tribes, you will be challenged to replace your current images of the country with a new vibrancy.
Both a celebration and call for preservation, discover striking portraits, stories, and heirlooms that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. This free museum, the only one of its kind, is a labor of love and respect. It stands as a testament to the connection, appreciation and plea Rehahn has for these remarkable yet vanishing tribes.
Enter the museum and be whisked away to the diverse corners of Vietnam often inaccessible to foreigners.
Five rooms spanning over 500 sqm in a French colonial house from the 19th century, present hundreds of portraits, over 60 costumes, tribal songs, and a sense of wonder. Visiting each room you can follow Rehahn as he has ventured 7 years to document the lives, traditions and memoirs of 49 of 54 ethnic tribes left in the country. Many days, Rehahn can be found sharing his adventures with visitors, signing books or putting together one of the many hosted events throughout the year. Promoting the beauty and enchanting diversity of Vietnam, he hopes to bring attention to the rapid loss of ethnic tradition by sharing the essence of the people who have revolutionized his career.
WHY ?
With ethnic clashes in his own country, Rehahn was confronted early on to develop his own understanding and appreciation for culture. With a love for photography, 10 years crafting it, 35 countries traveled and a family of his own, he has only fallen deeper in love with cultures and the value of heritage. This passion has brought Rehahn to settle in Hoi An, Vietnam which has offered the opportunity to immerse in the beauty and traditions of a country often shrouded from the global community.
Through this, Rehahn is inspired to challenge what you think you know about Vietnam. You are invited to replace the old black & white images in your memory with new portraits of vibrance and truth.
THE CAUSE
There’s one characteristic of Vietnamese culture that stands out from the rest: They are extremely resilient people.They’ve managed to turn a traumatic history into a blossoming future. This, however, comes at a price. Adapting to the changing times, young adults are leaving their villages to work in big cities for brighter promises. While creating new history, they leave a wake of cultural heritage behind that’s at risk of being lost forever. With tribal numbers dwindling, there are few to pass unwritten languages and traditional customs to. What’s left is a sense of urgency to document and preserve this legacy as much as we can right now.
HOW ?
In remote settings, often requiring special access and permits, Rehahn continues to seek out to meet all 54 of Vietnam’s surviving ethnic groups. The goal is to listen to their stories, witness time-honored rituals and get of sense of the personal feelings for their own cultural significance. Through his lens, he ensures their authentic feelings are being told by documenting life as it unfolds for each ethnic tribe.Réhahn believes that one reason there is minimal concern for the disappearing culture is because there is little perceived value outside the community. His hope is to be the voice and mirror of the Vietnamese people – this way when their culture is reflected back to them through someone else’s eyes, they will see how precious it truly is.
MUSEUM EVENTS
Rehahn maintains close ties with the people he photographs and is an integral part of the local Hoi An Community. He hosts several monthly events including visits and workshops with tribes ranging from embroidery and hemp dying to traditional dance, music and more. Make sure to sign up for the monthly newsletter for the latest events and coverage.
