Giving Photographs A Place To Breathe: Tran Thanh Thao And The Story Behind 224 Space

Midway through our conversation, Tran Thanh Thao posed a question that left me in total pause:

“Have you ever gazed at a photo of your family, your friends, or a breathtaking landscape for longer than a single minute?”

I instinctively opened my phone’s library, an archive of over 20,000 moments buried under endless timestamps. I shook my head, knowing very few of us could genuinely say “yes.” We impulsively capture a warm dinner, a getaway, or a cherished face, only to swipe away a second later.

To Tran Thanh Thao, this captures the central paradox of our modern existence: we are flooded with visuals, yet starved of feeling.

After more than 20 years working in creative fields, from advertising and design to event production, Tran Thanh Thao entered photography as a new challenge for herself. She does not see it as a career change, but rather as an extension of her creative journey, making it “more exciting and full of colors.”

Her first solo exhibition, “224 by Tran Thanh Thao - Rebirth,” became the first milestone in her deeper exploration of fine art photography. From there, the number 224 took on another form: 224 SPACE, a dedicated photography-focused art space in Saigon.

We sat down with Thao to explore why images need to step out from behind the glass, the lost art of the lingering gaze, and her modest dream for 224 SPACE: to serve as a quiet gathering place for kindred spirits.

If Someone Had Never Heard Of You Before, How Would You Introduce Tran Thanh Thao?

I am someone who loves beauty, draws energy from silence, and does not like talking too much about myself.

Between Your Three Roles - Creative Director, Photographer, And Founder - Which One Best Represents Who You Are?

All three are different expressions of the same Tran Thanh Thao. Perhaps each role is simply another way for me to pursue the creative work that I love.

What Brought You To Photography?

After more than 20 years working in creative fields including advertising, design, and event production, there came a moment when I wanted to challenge myself with a new role and a new discipline.

I see photography as a step forward in my own creative journey. As for how far or how long this journey will take, I cannot say. I only know that I will continue doing my best to pursue what I believe in.

What Did Your First Solo Exhibition, “224 By Tran Thanh Thao - Rebirth,” Mean To Your Journey?

It was the first foundation that encouraged me to go deeper into photography and better understand my personal perspective on fine art photography. Photography has also helped me overcome certain limitations - in my health, in the way I see life, beauty, and even my own capabilities.

But photography did not change my career path. It simply made that journey more interesting and colorful.

You Once Said That Today We “Look At More But Feel Less.” What Experiences Led You To This Perspective?

We are living in a digital age where we exist through images so much that we take them for granted. Creating and consuming images has become incredibly fast and effortless. And when something becomes too abundant, it gradually loses its sense of value.

Have you ever looked at a photograph of your family, friends, or a beautiful landscape for more than a minute?

Long enough to remember the scene, the stories, and the moments behind that image?

If not, it becomes difficult to truly “feel” a photograph. Today, we interact with images in a rather possessive way: creating more, collecting more, treating them almost like physical objects. Yet in the end, many of those images become invisible in our memories.

From The Beginning, What Experience Did You Imagine 224 Space Would Offer Visitors?

I have always believed that simplicity and comfort help bring things closer together. I hope visitors who step into this space will spend more time observing, listening, and having conversations with each photograph.

What Makes 224 Space Different From A Traditional Photography Gallery Or Studio?

It was created from my emotions, aspirations, questions, and determination. Is that enough to make it different?

That may sound a little dramatic. But honestly, I have never tried to create something simply to be different. What I care about more is creating connection and empathy through photography.

How Do Architecture, Lighting, And Sound At 224 Space Shape The Viewer’s Emotions?

A quiet space with focused lighting that highlights each artwork, accompanied by instrumental music and subtle scents… All of these elements are designed to encourage people to stay longer.

And when you stay long enough, you begin to feel deeply enough.

Why Is It Important To Bring Photographs Beyond The Screen?
It is similar to the difference between chatting with someone through Facebook or Instagram and actually sitting together with that person in a beautiful café with music and lighting. It is still the same person, but the experience is completely different.

A photograph is the same. When it is printed, placed within a physical space, surrounded by light, and given distance from the viewer, our relationship with that image changes.

Perhaps the most important thing is still the amount of time we dedicate to it.

During Your First Solo Exhibition, You Were Also Announced As The Leica M11 Ambassador In Vietnam. What Does This Milestone Mean To You?

When I take photographs or choose equipment, I have never thought: “One day, I must become an ambassador.” But if my efforts and dedication are recognized, I feel incredibly grateful and honored. It also becomes motivation for me to continue the journey I have chosen.

You Once Said 224 Space Is Not Just A Gallery. What Do You Hope This Place Will Become?

I have never thought of 224 SPACE as only a gallery.

To me, this is a space where people who love photography can meet, exchange ideas, and inspire one another. I hope photographers, especially young photographers, will see 224 SPACE as a stop along their creative journey.

Not a place to prove themselves or seek recognition, but a place where they can share perspectives, listen to stories, and continue developing their own voices.

I am a person from Saigon, and I love Saigon.

If 224 SPACE is a small photograph within this city’s photography and art community, I simply hope it will be an image with meaning and its own sense of beauty.

After Visiting An Exhibition At 224 Space, What Do You Hope People Will Take Away?

This may sound practical, but I truly hope people will spend more time visiting photography exhibitions. Look at more photobooks.

That is one way photographs can have a life beyond the screens of electronic devices.

I believe photography carries a mission of connection: connecting cultures, connecting lives, and connecting hearts.

This interview was conducted in August 2026.

224 SPACE is a photography-focused art space in Ho Chi Minh City founded by photographer Tran Thanh Thao. Built around three core elements - light, color, and flexibility - the space aims to create an immersive viewing experience where audiences can slow down, observe, and engage more deeply with photography.

Beyond exhibitions, 224 SPACE serves as a creative hub connecting photographers, artists, and visual storytelling enthusiasts through exhibitions, conversations, and photography-related programs.