Views of the Hanoi Exposition 1902

Curator: This vintage photograph by J. Antonio shows the Philippine Pavilion at the Hanoi Exposition. The sepia tone gives it such a wistful quality. Editor: The architecture, with its vaguely European flourishes, speaks volumes about colonial ambition and the forced display of culture. Curator: Absolutely. Note the size and the construction—materials likely sourced through exploitative labor practices, brought together to project power. Editor: And that band assembled in front? It’s a potent symbol of forced assimilation and the performance of colonial order. Who gets to be seen, and how? Curator: It’s a fascinating example of how materials and construction choices can become entangled with oppressive social systems. Editor: Indeed. This isn't just an image; it's a document implicating aesthetics in a complex web of historical power dynamics.