High Artist Spotlight: Ha Nguyen Nguyen
Ha Nguyen's art is a channel for her self-expression and self-enjoyment. She always has lots of struggles transforming her thoughts and emotion into words that people often misunderstood the distant appearance she displays on the outside. She's initially pursuing arts as an attempt to become more expressive and vulnerable; her illustrations so far are largely demonstrations of unspeakable words. The artworks she's most tempted to create are those that resonate with her inner soul and speak to humanity.She obtained a degree in Business, however decided to make a shift into a whole different path where it gives more space for her emotion and spirit to thrive. She currently works as a TV program monitor and illustrator for a broadcasting company in Tokyo. She dedicates most of her time to exploring, experimenting and unfolding the world around as a way to understand and witness everything in its true version. She then usually interprets those experiences into her artwork to depict the humanity side of things people are usually indifferent to or take for granted. Although technical illustration skills are essential, traveling is her main practice for inspiration and to deliver her artworks better when it makes her become more observant of things and allows her emotion to grow as she encounters new things and people on the way.
We recently caught up with Ha after High Art 2022 to learn more about her most recent inspirations:
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Where do you find your creative inspiration?
Solo travelling is my main practice for inspiration and to deliver my artwork better as it makes me become more observant of things around and enables my emotion to grow as I encounter new things and people on the way.
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Why do you do what you do?
I’m pursuing arts as an attempt to become more expressive and vulnerable as I am struggling with communicating and articulating my emotions in words. Arts builds my character and helps me narrow the emotional gap with other human being, especially my loved ones.
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What art/artist do you most identify with?
Surrealism/ Impressionism
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What themes do you pursue the most?
Themes that are strongly relevant to human being
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What role does an artist have in society?
To keep people's spirit and soul alive. To describe unspeakable things, to tell stories at a profound level and give voice to the voiceless.
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What is your artistic outlook on life?
Let my spirit guides my way, be honest with myself and always live in the present. Life should be led by love, not by fear.
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What advice would you give to your younger self?
Think less and feel more. Live slowly.
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Do you listen to music while you are creating? If yes, tell us your favorite song and artist.
I always listen to music when creating artworks but I don't have any particular favourite song or artist as I try to listen to all kinds of arrangements and melodies I can find in any music to diversify my way of interpretation as much as possible.
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What's the best thing about being an artist?
Being an artist gives me a chance to be creative, enthusiastic and be free and at the same time allows me to reconnect and bond with only my own soul. I also love creating artworks as when I look back, I feel a sense of accomplishment that I actually learned and did something out of my time. If I just keep amassing knowledge without using or applying them into reality, I don’t feel like I complete anything and remain confused and empty.
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What is your dream project?
A project that can benefit my/any community in a positive way. A project that can create jobs and instil hope in the South African youth.
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