Rubbish tip: Houses on a bank of the Huong River.

THUA THIEN - HUE — One hundred photos and a documentary reflecting both the good and bad sides of the famous Huong (Perfume) River are on display in the central city of Hue.

Images sending messages that the river is being increasingly polluted make up most of the collection, with pictures of river bank residents discarding rubbish and deep channels that have been dug by illegal sand exploiters.

The photos were taken by both amateur and professional photographers and filmmakers as part of a five-month community art project initiated by artist Phan Le Chung of the Hue College of Arts.

The project, Cau Chuyen Cua Dong Song (River's Stories), started in July and attracted the participation of four groups: fishermen, students from Van Quan Dong Elementary School and Phu Xuan University, and local photographers.

"The river is no longer known for its romantic and poetic beauty. It is faced with an alarming level of environmental pollution like any river running through a big city," said Chung.

"The project has succeeded in connecting different groups in the community, and changing their awareness of the river."

The artists have brought to attention different perspectives about life on and off the river. They include rapid exhaustion of water resources upstream, rubbish floating on the river surface, and newly-built houses diluting the cultural value of Bao Vinh Street, one of the city's most beautiful ancient streets.

"It seems we feel the river is groaning about being polluted. The turquoise blue water sometimes turns red like the Hong (Red) River silt," said Dr Phan Thanh Binh, rector of the Hue College of Arts.

"The project aims to let those involved capture positive and negative aspects of the river through their own eyes. And it is these people who will make changes to community awareness about protecting the beauty of the river as well as its surroundings," said Binh.

The exhibition, co-organised by the Hue College of Arts and the Thua Thien- Hue Arts Association, runs until next Wednesday at 26 Le Loi Street, Hue City. — VNS