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Asia

Võ An Khánh
Extra Curriculum Political Science Class 7/1972

In Võ An Khánh’s Extra Curriculum Political Science Class 7/1972, a group of women walk bare-foot and single-file towards Dat Mui Mangrove in Ca Mau Province to attend ‘political science class’. These women wear headdresses to protect their identities because they are spies placed strategically in the South by the Viet Cong. These classes of the ‘National Liberation Front for Southern Vietnam’ took place in the mangrove swamp in makeshift wooden huts where they would learn more of the political points of view of their forces and the changes in military situations across the country.

During the Vietnam War, Võ An Khánh traveled with the guerrilla unit of the Northen Vietnamese Army (Viet Cong) in Sourthern Vietnam. As secretary for the Printing Office of the ‘Van Cong’ (Entertainement team), he wrote texts for propaganda and took photographs of the frontline, subsequently mounting mobile exhibitions in-situ. At times, Võ An Khánh would climb trees to get a better angle on the action, mindful of the film that was irreplaceable and extremely limited. Many perceive these artist’s photographs as staged, however they are unique field shots that capture the resilience of the Vietnamese people.