Vietnam’s Disappearing Vintage Signs Are Pop Culture Remnants of a Bygone Era
By: Cristina Nualart
Date: April 29, 2017
Keyword(s): Historical photos, Sign painters
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Asia
Resource Type: Linked article
The phenomenal development of Ho Chi Minh City in the 21st century, documented by Erik Harms among others, has no doubt caused much vintage signage to disappear. As academics and the art world debate what merits collection and preservation in museums and archives, city centers —in Vietnam as elsewhere—continue to reflect society’s changing tastes.
Related Resources
How can the traditional sign-painting profession survive in the age of AI?
An interview with sign painter Vu Pham Y Di in Ho Chi Minh City highlights how this art form preserves memory and human imperfection.
View Resource
At 70, Kafeel Ahmed Ansari is winning hearts with Fred Again’s India tour poster
A lifestyle gallery posted by The Indian Express about the work of sign painter Kafeel Ahmed Ansari.
View Resource
Brush strokes: Preserving Saigon’s heritage signage
The cultural significance of Saigon’s disappearing hand-painted signage and the efforts undertaken to preserve this often-overlooked dimension of urban heritage.