Hanoi artist creates art with fabric and thread

As the year of Dragon has arrived, artist Nguyen Thu Huyen’s art house in Hanoi echoes with the laughter of her students eagerly painting ao dai (traditional long dress).

Huyen is a renowned name in the field of fabric collage. In recent years, she has also dedicated her time to teaching drawing and writing books on the art. For Huyen, creating fabric collages is her passion, while teaching and writing books allows her to share her love for art with others.

Unique creation

Huyen has had a love for art since she was a child. In 2006, she began showcasing her work on her blog, receiving positive feedback from many people. Since then, Huyen has nurtured her passion and explored more intricate forms of art.

Beautiful Flower, a piece made of silk and tafta.

Vietnamese Beauty, the first collage Huyen created with a friend who shared her interest in the traditional costumes of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, took six months to complete and is currently on display at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum.

Upon entering the world of collage, Huyen realized that she was not the only artist pursuing this genre. Therefore, she found her own distinctive approach to make her works stand out from those of other artists.

Huyen incorporates various materials into her collages instead of relying solely on one type of fabric. She meticulously blends every detail into the collage and outlines them with thread to create a cohesive piece. The themes of her works often revolve around the beauty of Hanoi women and landscapes.

Commenting on Huyen’s works, critic Hoang Anh stated that quilting is an art form found all around the world. Huyen, being one of the youngest quilting artists in Vietnam, showcases extraordinary creations. Anh mentioned that while quilting is widely used in the fashion industry, few individuals can utilize it to produce independent artworks that meet the criteria of fine art. Huyen successfully employs fabric as a medium to create artworks and has found her own path in pursuing art.

Spreading the love of art

In 2014, Huyen initiated drawing classes for students of all ages at House of Art.

Initially, she established the center out of her passion for fine arts, with the intention of providing children early guidance and professional instruction to maximize their artistic abilities.

Nguyen Thu Huyen is a well-known figure in Vietnam’s fabric collage scene. Photo courtesy of the artist

The initial vision was to make art accessible to everyone, but the teaching process has also been an enriching experience for Huyen herself. The artist admits to being inspired by her students.

“I have a student in her 60s who has had a lifelong passion for painting. However, due to family obligations and the need to earn a living, she was unable to pursue her dream. This woman helped me understand that regardless of age, it is never too late to pursue our passions and dreams,” Huyen shared.

In addition to teaching, Huyen has authored art books for children, with nine books already published. Born in the Year of the Dragon in 1988, Huyen intends to celebrate her zodiac sign by completing a book that explores the traditional costumes of countries worldwide. This ambitious project involves illustrating the traditional costumes of 40 countries and compiling them into a book.

When asked to describe herself in five words, Huyen promptly responded: Humble, creative, steadfast, energetic, and kind. These qualities guide her as she continues her artistic journey.

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