Sergey Mikhalyuk
Rice and Images of Vietnam
EXHIBITION PROGRAM
15 June – 31 July, 2025
Opening: 15 June, 2025 | 18:00
Opening: 15 June, 2025 | 18:00
MIKHAIL SAVITSKY
GALLERY
15 Svobody Square, Minsk
Opening hours: 11:00 – 19:00
Working days: Wednesday – Sunday
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
GALLERY
15 Svobody Square, Minsk
Opening hours: 11:00 – 19:00
Working days: Wednesday – Sunday
Closed: Monday, Tuesday
About the Project
The exhibition Rice and Images of Vietnam by photographer Sergey Mikhalyuk is a profound visual journey into the culture, daily life, and natural landscape of northern Vietnam.
Rendered in timeless black and white, the series transcends geography and chronology – inviting viewers into a meditative dialogue with authenticity, tradition, and endurance.
Mikhalyuk’s lens does not merely record; it participates. Immersing himself in the rhythms of rural life, he becomes part of the very world he observes. His images speak of devotion, labor, and human harmony – revealing a land where nature and people exist in an intimate, almost sacred balance.
At the heart of the project lies the culture of rice cultivation – not only as an agricultural practice, but as the foundation of Vietnamese identity. Mikhalyuk captures every stage of this cycle: from the soft geometry of flooded terraces to the shared effort of harvest. His photographs convey both the gravity and grace of manual labor – the serenity of faces, the quiet dignity of perseverance, and the enduring bond between humans and the earth.
The compositions reveal an exquisite sensitivity to form and structure.
Terraces unfold like living sculptures; the misted mountains frame gestures of care and resilience. Each image embodies the poetry of work – the unity of human effort and natural rhythm.
In his reflections, the photographer speaks of the sacredness of rice – of food as meditation, of sustenance as philosophy. Through his images, he shares not only what he saw, but what he felt – reverence for people whose simplicity and strength define the essence of life itself.
Rice and Images of Vietnam is both a visual celebration and a philosophical meditation on labor, harmony, and endurance. It is a hymn to the quiet beauty of ordinary existence, a reminder of the profound dignity in everyday work, and a tribute to the timeless connection between human beings and the land that sustains them.
Mikhalyuk is not just a photographer; he is a storyteller – one who invites us to slow down, to listen, and to see the world through eyes attuned to patience and gratitude.
Rendered in timeless black and white, the series transcends geography and chronology – inviting viewers into a meditative dialogue with authenticity, tradition, and endurance.
Mikhalyuk’s lens does not merely record; it participates. Immersing himself in the rhythms of rural life, he becomes part of the very world he observes. His images speak of devotion, labor, and human harmony – revealing a land where nature and people exist in an intimate, almost sacred balance.
At the heart of the project lies the culture of rice cultivation – not only as an agricultural practice, but as the foundation of Vietnamese identity. Mikhalyuk captures every stage of this cycle: from the soft geometry of flooded terraces to the shared effort of harvest. His photographs convey both the gravity and grace of manual labor – the serenity of faces, the quiet dignity of perseverance, and the enduring bond between humans and the earth.
The compositions reveal an exquisite sensitivity to form and structure.
Terraces unfold like living sculptures; the misted mountains frame gestures of care and resilience. Each image embodies the poetry of work – the unity of human effort and natural rhythm.
In his reflections, the photographer speaks of the sacredness of rice – of food as meditation, of sustenance as philosophy. Through his images, he shares not only what he saw, but what he felt – reverence for people whose simplicity and strength define the essence of life itself.
Rice and Images of Vietnam is both a visual celebration and a philosophical meditation on labor, harmony, and endurance. It is a hymn to the quiet beauty of ordinary existence, a reminder of the profound dignity in everyday work, and a tribute to the timeless connection between human beings and the land that sustains them.
Mikhalyuk is not just a photographer; he is a storyteller – one who invites us to slow down, to listen, and to see the world through eyes attuned to patience and gratitude.
About the Author
Sergey Mikhalyuk
Photographer, Traveler
Photographer, Traveler
Born in Minsk in 1970, Sergey Mikhalyuk is a member of the Belarusian Association of Photographers and the Union of Photo Artists of Russia.
In 1998, he founded the Magic Contemporary Dance Theatre, where he worked as a director, choreographer, and performer, touring across Japan, the UAE, Russia, Turkey, Singapore, and other countries. His creative portfolio includes more than 400 productions – from stage performances to musicals. Many of his students have since become leading dancers and choreographers in Belarus.
Alongside his career in dance, Mikhalyuk developed a deep passion for photography. His visual projects and essays have been featured in Photocasa (Russia), 1x.com (Sweden), National Geographic, and Shades of Color (France), among others. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions and is a laureate of several national and international photography competitions.
In 1998, he founded the Magic Contemporary Dance Theatre, where he worked as a director, choreographer, and performer, touring across Japan, the UAE, Russia, Turkey, Singapore, and other countries. His creative portfolio includes more than 400 productions – from stage performances to musicals. Many of his students have since become leading dancers and choreographers in Belarus.
Alongside his career in dance, Mikhalyuk developed a deep passion for photography. His visual projects and essays have been featured in Photocasa (Russia), 1x.com (Sweden), National Geographic, and Shades of Color (France), among others. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions and is a laureate of several national and international photography competitions.
Time of Rice
The exhibition Time of Rice is the culmination of Mikhalyuk’s long photographic journeys through northern Vietnam – an intimate exploration of the country’s landscapes, traditions, and people. During his expeditions, he immersed himself in the rhythm of village life, capturing the harmony between humanity and nature that defines this unique region.
The exhibition presents 55 carefully selected black-and-white photographs, each revealing the timeless beauty and quiet dignity of rural Vietnam. His images are filled with balance – the geometry of terraced fields, the interplay of mountain peaks and mist, and the expressive simplicity of everyday gestures. Through his lens, work becomes ritual, and the ordinary transforms into poetry.
At the heart of the project lies the culture of rice cultivation – not merely as an agricultural process, but as a symbol of life, endurance, and unity. Rice sustains over half of humanity, and Vietnam is among the world’s five largest exporters. Yet, beyond its global significance, it remains a deeply local story: more than 15 million small family farms still cultivate rice by hand.
“Every morning, women come to the fields with their children,” Mikhalyuk writes.“While parents work, the little ones rest against their backs. I’m moved by their devotion – their hands and feet resemble the dry roots of trees, yet their eyes radiate kindness. They look at the world with clarity and freedom.”
For Mikhalyuk, rice is more than sustenance – it is a sacred link between people and the earth. The traditions of rice farming have been passed down through generations, preserving a way of life that remains remarkably unchanged. Few places on Earth still maintain such closeness to nature.
“Now I look at rice differently,” says the artist.“It has become sacred to me. Every meal feels like a meditation – and this reverence comes from the people themselves, from the simple Vietnamese farmers who live with such grace and dignity.”
Time of Rice is both a travelogue and a reflection – a meditation on labor, community, and the enduring beauty of life rooted in simplicity. It invites viewers to slow down, to observe, and to rediscover what it means to live in harmony with the world.
The exhibition presents 55 carefully selected black-and-white photographs, each revealing the timeless beauty and quiet dignity of rural Vietnam. His images are filled with balance – the geometry of terraced fields, the interplay of mountain peaks and mist, and the expressive simplicity of everyday gestures. Through his lens, work becomes ritual, and the ordinary transforms into poetry.
At the heart of the project lies the culture of rice cultivation – not merely as an agricultural process, but as a symbol of life, endurance, and unity. Rice sustains over half of humanity, and Vietnam is among the world’s five largest exporters. Yet, beyond its global significance, it remains a deeply local story: more than 15 million small family farms still cultivate rice by hand.
“Every morning, women come to the fields with their children,” Mikhalyuk writes.“While parents work, the little ones rest against their backs. I’m moved by their devotion – their hands and feet resemble the dry roots of trees, yet their eyes radiate kindness. They look at the world with clarity and freedom.”
For Mikhalyuk, rice is more than sustenance – it is a sacred link between people and the earth. The traditions of rice farming have been passed down through generations, preserving a way of life that remains remarkably unchanged. Few places on Earth still maintain such closeness to nature.
“Now I look at rice differently,” says the artist.“It has become sacred to me. Every meal feels like a meditation – and this reverence comes from the people themselves, from the simple Vietnamese farmers who live with such grace and dignity.”
Time of Rice is both a travelogue and a reflection – a meditation on labor, community, and the enduring beauty of life rooted in simplicity. It invites viewers to slow down, to observe, and to rediscover what it means to live in harmony with the world.
Sergey Mikhalyuk
Rice and Images of Vietnam
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