With a desire to encourage and nourish the study of and appreciation for the arts, our Studio Visits – recorded videos of interviews – invite the public to look behind the scenes, explore what inspires artists to create, and expand their perspective on what constitutes artistic practices today.  

Visit Nguyen Art Foundation’s YouTube channel to view more videos.

Studio Visit with Tran Thi Huynh Nga - Nguyen Art Foundation (9 Mar, 2023, Saigon, Vietnam)

In the first half of this interview, Tran Thi Huynh Nga recounts the social context and the establishment of Blue Space in the 1990s, when there were no art spaces in Saigon. With determination and pioneering spirit, she reshaped the art organization landscape in Vietnam through cross-border exhibitions. These endeavors brought Vietnamese artworks to the international stage, welcomed the world to Saigon, and brought audiences closer to the artists. Blue Space became a support system for the young artists of that time, providing them with a space for gathering, exchange, and a spiritual foundation, enabling them to focus on their artistic creations. In the second part of the interview, Ms. Nga reflects on her deep and devoted journey with the late artist/husband Tran Trung Tin, one of the most extraordinary and profoundly talented figures in Vietnamese art. Despite never receiving formal art training, Tran Trung Tin seemed to surpass his generation, finding his unique visual language, freedom of expression, and enduring relevance. In the first half of this interview, Tran Thi Huynh Nga recounts the social context and the establishment of Blue Space in the 1990s, when there were no art spaces in Saigon. With determination and pioneering spirit, she reshaped the art organization landscape in Vietnam through cross-border exhibitions. These endeavors brought Vietnamese artworks to the international stage, welcomed the world to Saigon, and brought audiences closer to the artists. Blue Space became a support system for the young artists of that time, providing them with a space for gathering, exchange, and a spiritual foundation, enabling them to focus on their artistic creations. In the second part of the interview, Ms. Nga reflects on her deep and devoted journey with the late artist/husband Tran Trung Tin, one of the most extraordinary and profoundly talented figures in Vietnamese art. Despite never receiving formal art training, Tran Trung Tin seemed to surpass his generation, finding his unique visual language, freedom of expression, and enduring relevance.

Studio Visit with Bui Hai Son - Nguyen Art Foundation (10 Mar, 2023, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this interview, Bui Hai Son explores the journey of shaping and expanding his sculptural language through experiences related to identity, homeland, memory, symbolism, and materials. For Bui Hai Son, sculpture is not only a harmonization of form, matter, and space but also carries the potential to become a socially inclusive practice. This belief has enabled the artist to sustain his career over several decades, collaborating with diverse artisans and forging connections between sculpture, architecture, and light. Using the imagery of rice grains as a visual thread throughout his works, Bui Hai Son believes that interdisciplinary and multi-material connections form the foundation for sculpture that resonates with the flow of contemporary art while also paying homage to local cultural heritage.

Studio Visit with Le Quoc Thanh - Nguyen Art Foundation (9 Mar, 2023, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this interview, Le Quoc Thanh reflects on the distinctive spontaneousness in his artworks as a result of the accumulated experiences from his everyday activities: from learning carpentry and sewing clothes for his family as a child to taking care of plants and his own children after getting married. Recalling his unique educational journey, Quoc Thanh demonstrates his ability for self-learn and profound introspection throughout his artistic practice. Creating art is always a daily self-reflection process for him, both as an artist and as an observer, which drives the harmonious blending of his astute perspective with the gentle and refined strokes of his own brush.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Trung - Nguyen Art Foundation (10 Mar, 2023, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this interview video, Nguyen Trung discusses how art weaves through the confines of history and eras defined after the fact. Reflecting on his challenging journeys abroad and historic work with the Fine Arts Magazine and Group of Ten within the turbulent art scene of the 1960s and 1970s, Nguyen Trung demonstrates his incredible flexibility in maneuvering between the political regime and art market, between ideals and reality, which has now become a necessary strategy for the Vietnamese contemporary art scene. He resists attempts to frame his practice within specific movements or genres, and instead nurtures his “inner child’s thirst for continuous exploration and transformation”.

Studio Visit with Tuan Andrew Nguyen - Nguyen Art Foundation (26 Jan, 2022, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this video interview, Tuan Andrew Nguyen reflects on his varied body of work, and the integral role that collaboration plays in his artistic practice. Working primarily with communities and sites that have undergone trauma, Tuan Andrew looks to storytelling and object-making as strategies to resist erasure and retain memory. Walking through past and current projects, Tuan Andrew rethinks memory, not as a bygone relic, but as something that is always present in the objects we make, the tales we pass on, and the land we inhabit.

Studio Visit with Truong Cong Tung - Nguyen Art Foundation (20 Jan, 2022, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 22-minute video interview, Truong Cong Tung discusses the role of nature, time, and the process of organic decay as factors beyond human control that add to the life of his art. For this child of the Central Highlands, such materials are more than just the means to an end: Cong Tung is interested in how matters speak, transform, and share intangible bonds with humans. Through the metaphor of the garden (as seen in both his artworks and the way he practices and cultivates as an artist), Cong Tung highlights the transformative capacity that exists within every being, and encourages us to re-discover our internal ecosystem.

Studio Visit with Phan Thao Nguyen - Nguyen Art Foundation (19 Jan, 2022, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this interview, Thao Nguyen Phan expresses the desire to construct fictional yet genuine narratives that have the power to combine and convey her various passions in art, history, literature and ecology. Ambience, form, color and rhythm – across her usage of different mediums and materials, Thao Nguyen seeks to create such “emotional impressions” in her storytelling, both as a way to connect and bring to light obscure or displaced historical information, and an attempt to find her own perspective and go beyond mainstream discourses.

Studio Visit with Do Hoang Tuong - Nguyen Art Foundation (26 Jan, 2022, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 23-minute video interview, Do Hoang Tuong reflects on his artistic transition from Abstract to Figurative painting, touching on themes of urban injustice, personal angst and psychological anxiety. The artist discusses his involvement with the ‘Group of Ten’, his fascination with unconventional ideas of beauty, and his alternative occupation as an illustrator, offering a closer glimpse into his life as well as artistic journey.

Studio Visit with Phan Quang - Nguyen Art Foundation (20 Jan, 2022, Saigon, Viet Nam)

In this video interview, Phan Quang shares his transition from documentary to conceptual photography – a medium that has liberated him from prior barriers and allowed for a more genuine way of expressing personal viewpoints. Walking through notable projects, the artist discusses his use of popular symbols and ordinary materials to elicit thoughts on social limitations, the ability of historical narratives to transform, and the resistant life of suppressed communities.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Manh Hung - Nguyen Art Foundation (19 Jan, 2022, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 25-minute video interview, Nguyen Manh Hung reflects on familial ties, cross-generational post-war memory, Charlie Chaplin and Buddhism as inspirations behind his practice. Discussing his love of bringing together Surrealism and satire to produce social critique, Hung walks us through several examples of his past and current works, while also addressing humanity’s lust for power and possessions, as well as our disregard of the non-human world as contributing factors to the decline of our morality and ethics.

Studio Visit with Tuan Mami - Nguyen Art Foundation (17 Nov 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 35-minute video interview, Tuan Mami discusses the memory of objects, what it means to co-exist, and what he calls the “gene of time” – all of which have been crucial in inspiring, furthering and transforming his artistic practice. Reflecting on the importance of interaction and exchange in both the production and display of his works, Tuan Mami talks about fusing performance art with other mediums, as well as his recent projects whereby art becomes a means to generate a sense of community and interpersonal connections.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Trinh Thi - Nguyen Art Foundation (17 Nov 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Although anthropology was one of the side subjects to Nguyen Trinh Thi’s academic journey, it was important in her transition to filmmaking. In this 30-minute video interview, the artist digs deeper into various aspects of her renowned work ‘Letters from Panduranga’ (amongst others), elaborating on fundamental issues of power, representation, chance, and ‘the gaze’ in filmmaking.

Studio Visit with Ha Manh Thang - Nguyen Art Foundation (17 Nov 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

For Ha Manh Thang, his art practice is a seamless thread that links the artist with his heritage and surrounding landscape. In this 20-minute video interview, the artist thinks about time and space, the visible scenery and the landscape of our imagination, the transition from figurative representation to abstraction, the presence of craftsmanship in Southeast Asian arts. This contemplative process influences his artwork, which is seen as a tangible reflection of the cycle of life.

Studio Visit with Lap Phuong - Nguyen Art Foundation (16 Nov 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 23-minute video interview, Lap Phuong shares her journey of becoming a sculptor, the inspirations behind her art, and the rare moments of pleasure she comes across during her artistic experimentation. Maneuvering through the spatial conditions surrounding her works, as well as the self-imposed challenge to harmonize various internal and external elements involved, the artist also talks about the state of being “crystalized” in relation to her artmaking development.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Kim Thai - Nguyen Art Foundation (16 Nov 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 22-minute video, Nguyen Kim Thai reflects on the challenging journey she undertook while studying to become an artist during wartime, and later while practicing as one of Vietnam’s few female artists during the Doi Moi period. She also discusses the power of acceptance and staying true to oneself, and how society’s perception of her nude paintings has changed over the years due to her persistence.

Studio Visit with Doan Xuan Tang - Nguyen Art Foundation (16 Nov 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 17-minute video interview, Doan Xuan Tang talks about his endless fascination with life in the highlands, how its people and sceneries have been his main source of inspiration since his university days, and how he uses abstraction as a way to metaphorically capture the fast-paced changes occurring across Vietnam’s rural and urban societies.

Studio Visit with Doan Hoang Lam - Nguyen Art Foundation (22 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 20-minute-video, Doan Hoang Lam shares how his artistic upbringing led to his art career, his practice, mediums, the subject of his paintings, and how people received his nude painting series. He also shares his future plans for practicing his art.

Studio Visit with Ha Ninh Pham - Nguyen Art Foundation (21 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 22-minute-video, Ha Ninh Pham discusses the fictitious maps and colors in his works, his practice, the difference between Vietnamese and US education, the current Vietnamese art community, and how the COVID-19 has impacted his life.

Studio Visit with Dinh Thi Tham Poong - Nguyen Art Foundation (21 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 19-minute-video, Dinh Thi Tham Poong shares how her origins and family define her practice and art career, how she does research, her thoughts about the Vietnamese art community, and the character with a “blue personality” which is a character in her work.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Quang Huy - Nguyen Art Foundation (20 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 16-minute-video, Nguyen Quang Huy shares the early years of his career, the source of his inspiration, the artist group “Hanoi trio”, the evolution of his practice, and him opening his house for artists to practice their art.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Kim Duy - Nguyen Art Foundation (20 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 15-minute video, Nguyen Kim Duy shares how his artistic upbringing led to his art career, his usage of words in his practice, his thoughts on performance art, his experience at A. Farm Residency, and how the pandemic has affected him.

Studio Visit with Pham An Hai - Nguyen Art Foundation (20 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 16-minute-video, Pham An Hai shares the early years of his career and the transition in his practice. He discusses abstract art and the current art activities in Vietnam. He also shares how his works are auctioned on international auction floors.

Studio Visit with Do Thanh Lang - Nguyen Art Foundation (19 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 18-minute video, Do Thanh Lang shares how his artistic upbringing led to his art career, his practice, his medium, and the “Cù Rú” project. He also discusses the difference between the art communities in Saigon and in Hanoi. Quynh, NAF’s Founder, shares with Lang and Dat her stories of collecting art.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Van Cuong - Nguyen Art Foundation (19 Apr 2021, Hanoi, Vietnam)

In this 21-minute-video, Nguyen Van Cuong shares the role of his family in his art career. He also discusses the “Hanoi trio,” his point of view towards art education, his practice, his definition of contemporary art, and the connection between Vietnamese contemporary artists, culture, and history.

Studio Visit with Tuyen Nguyen - Nguyen Art Foundation (17 Apr 2021, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 18-minute-video, Tuyen Nguyen shares the turning point of his career from economics to art, his practice, mediums, the role of A Farm in his career, and how the COVID-19 has impacted his life.

Studio Visit with UuDam Tran Nguyen - Nguyen Art Foundation (17 Apr 2021, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 22-minute-video, UuDam shares how his art career started, the different experiences he gained from the Vietnamese and American educational systems, the reason for his return to Vietnam, and the development of his works with mediums. He also discusses some of his projects like “Serpents’ Tails”, “Eco-Đi”, “Technophobe”, and “Time Boomerang”.

Studio Visit with Dinh Q. Le - Nguyen Art Foundation (15 Apr 2021, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 24-minute video, Dinh Q.Le shares how his background as a Vietnamese American defines his career, the difference between the Vietnamese art scenes in the 90s and now, his subjects, practice, collecting stories, and “Sàn Art”, a non-profit contemporary art organization in Saigon.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Phuong Linh - Nguyen Art Foundation (28 Nov 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Nguyen Art Foundation’s Quynh Nguyen and Thy Nguyen visited Nguyễn Phương Linh in her Hanoi studio on 28 November 2020. Phương Linh shared the early stage of her art career, her practice, the source of her medium, and the “teachers” of her life who urged her to do more research and study about Vietnam history for her practice.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Huy An - Nguyen Art Foundation (28 Nov 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Quynh Nguyen, founder of Nguyen Art Foundation, and Thy Nguyen, Special Projects of Nguyen Art Foundation visited Nguyễn Huy An in his Hanoi studio on 28 November 2020. Huy An shared how his art career started, his practice, the artists who inspired him, the process of making A Ă Â and Study of The Fluctuation of a Shadow, and the afterthoughts that he puts in his works.

Studio Visit with Le Quy Tong - Nguyen Art Foundation (27 Nov 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Nguyen Art Foundation’s Quynh Nguyen and Thy Nguyen visited Lê Quý Tông in his Hanoi studio on 27 November 2020. Quý Tông shared how natural arts came to him, the source of inspiration for his practice, how his painting style was developed, his practice, the True Gold exhibition, and how the pandemic and the media affected the way he sees life.

Studio Visit with Nguyen Minh Thanh - Nguyen Art Foundation (27 Nov 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Nguyen Art Foundation’s Quynh Nguyen and Thy Nguyen visited Nguyễn Minh Thành in his Hanoi studio on 27 November 2020. Minh Thành shared how the outside world shaped his thinking and practice, the early stage of his art career, the way he thought painting exists in the human’s world, the true selves of human that he recognized from his practice, and how he chose to side with the flutters of his heart.

Studio Visit with Chu Thao - Nguyen Art Foundation (26 Nov 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Quynh Nguyen, founder of Nguyen Art Foundation, and Thy Nguyen, Special Projects, Nguyen Art Foundation visited War artist Chu Thảo in his Hanoi studio on 26 November 2020. Chu Thảo shared his early interest in art, his studies and the years spent on the battlefield after joining the Liberation Art Department in 1968.

Studio Visit with Truong Hieu - Nguyen Art Foundation (26 Nov 2020, Hanoi, Vietnam)

Nguyen Art Foundation’s Quynh Nguyen and Thy Nguyen visited War artist Trương Hiếu in his Hanoi studio on 26 November 2020. Trương Hiếu shared memories of his childhood, the decade spent on the battlefield after joining the People’s Army of Vietnam in 1965, and the life after the war.

Studio Visit with Cian Duggan - Nguyen Art Foundation (21 Nov 2020, Saigon, Vietnam)

In this 11-minute-video, Cian Duggan shares his upbringing in Ireland, why he moved to Vietnam, his practice, the figures in his paintings, his current projects, and the Vietnamese art community.

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