top of page
In Marble Village, a man holds a hammer, working on a marble piece, surrounded by tools, machines, and vehicles in the workshop - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
In Marble Village, a man with his back to the camera sculpts an unfinished divinity, its face visible but not detailed, facing the camera - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
A large Buddha statue on a pedestal in a shop garden, with smaller statues around, Marble Mountains in the blue sky background - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Two workers wearing Vietnamese conical hats in Marble Village, roping a massive marble block, surrounded by other blocks - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Marble blocks stacked in Marble Village, the top one shaped like a Vietnamese conical hat, standing out against the dusty surroundings - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Marble Village street view showing two large Buddha statues, a worker on a motorbike in the background, lifting equipment and a fence - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Buddha statue in the marble village, artisan’s arm watering it - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
A worker in Marble Village carves a large marble piece with ornaments, near motorbikes, tools, and a workshop with various Buddha statues in the background - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Women in Marble Village polish marble statues at their feet, looking like bending to the divinity, with a large fan nearby due to the intense heat - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Eagle statue with open mouth outside Marble Village, left on the ground, surrounded by vegetation, Marble Mountain in the shadowed background - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Inside a Marble Village workshop, a man polishes a statue, surrounded by three Buddha statues, all facing away, working in the shadows - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
A woman wearing a Vietnamese conical hat polishes a Buddha statue on a Marble Village sidewalk, shielding from white marble dust - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Two men in Marble Village with Vietnamese conical hats rope massive marble blocks for transport, ‘Hân’ in red written on one block - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
Close-up of a Ganesh marble statue in Marble Village, with a blue-black-white striped shop awning providing shade in the background - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier
In a shop, three nude marble busts, one of a kissing couple, another showing a woman’s back and bust, surrounded by a wall, Marble Mountain in the distance - Photo Metamorphosis by Jonathan Pannetier

Marble Mountains

​

The Marble Mountains, near Hoi An, Vietnam, are a sacred Buddhist destination known for their pagodas and marble sculptures, now crafted from imported stone to preserve the landscape. After a spiritual awakening, I returned to this region to document its "marble village," where artisans create statues reflecting cultural and religious beliefs. Through a cinematic lens, I captured marble as a living form and metaphorical rock, highlighting the man-made nature of both sculptures and convictions. "Marble Mountains" explores this evolution, blending humour, rawness, and reverence to reveal the hardships and divinity within us all. Like these statues, we too are shaped by our creations—yet hold the potential to transform and become divine through our deeper selves. Continue to the next series of pictures.

bottom of page