Mr. Kazuma, a retired photographer in Kyoto, had one rule: only shoot in black and white. But that day, while trying out OVFRIENDS’ new photo-sharing feature, he accidentally uploaded the only color photo on his device, a picture of the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest on a brilliant autumn afternoon, which he had taken as a test shot for his granddaughter. He meant to delete it, but then forgot.
In Hue, an art teacher named Nga stumbled upon the photo. She couldn’t read the Japanese caption, but still, the colors of the picture captivated her. She sent a short, sincere message: “As beautiful as a painting.”
Mr. Kazuma didn’t know Vietnamese. He replied with a smiley face and a camera emoji. Ms. Nga responded with a drawing palette icon. Just like that, their wordless conversation began. For half a year, they “talked” to each other through photos and icons. He would send pictures of ancient temples, and she would send back images of girls in violet ao dai.
Now, that photo of the Arashiyama forest hangs proudly in Ms. Nga’s classroom. Whenever a student asks, she tells them about a friend from far away, who taught her that art needs no language, only a kindred spirit.