A drop of rain to cultural paints

With a paint spray gun in hand and creativity flowing in mind, artist Trinh Minh Tien has created a new way to preserve cultural values on discarded car hoods.

Artworks from the exhibition

 (By: The Dreamers)

About artist Trinh Minh Tien

Artist Trinh Minh Tien graduated from the Fine Arts Department of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts. After graduating, he had trouble in his career. At his lowest point, he was drawn to the avant-garde art movement, an open-minded and refreshing art style. Most recently, at the 2023 Creative Design Festival in Hanoi, he presented his series of artworks titled "Thuy Phu", consisting of over 20 paintings on cars. These paintings depict historical and religious landmarks and symbols.

Trinh Minh Tien (left) and The Dreamers

From the normal to the special

Inspired by the shadows of raindrops falling on car windows, which reflect images of the country's landscape, artist Trinh Minh Tien has come up with a unique idea when combining contemporary art by using a paint spray gun to draw on the car hoods. Never seen those heritage sites disappear into nothingness. Still, through the "time-traveling" eyes, the artist wants those heritage buildings to gradually appear like an illusion elusive deep within the vastness of Thuy Phu and that seems to be a way for artists like Mr.Tien to preserve the cultural values of our country.

Artist Trinh Minh Tien working on his artwork

(Photo by: The Dreamers)

Thuy Phu - traces of historical and cultural values

About the “Thuy Phu” meaning, Artist Trinh Minh Tien shared that “Thuy” (water) represents flexibility, continual change, and impermanence. It also means purifying, harmonizing, and sweeping away dirt and pollution; forming the beginning of creativity and healing as well. “Phu” (palace) means a place to live, symbolizing the geographical element. The artist conveys a message of healing and connecting buried traces and values with water through his artworks.

The backdrop of the “Thuy Phu” exhibition

(Photo by: The Dreamers)

Mr. Tien used car hoods and water as two main materials in his exhibition. The car image symbolizes the era’s development, the movement of space and time following the fluid of history. The water image symbolizes the purification of negativity to start a new journey. All the reflections of those cultural heritage works seemingly blended into the water flow on used car hoods. 

These architectures as symbols crystalizing the traditional and cultural values of each historical period, which is flimsy and impermanent in the face of historical events in the past. The massive scale of Bao An pagoda in ancient times, the magnificence of Dien Can Chanh palace in the Imperial Citadel in Hue, and the richness in Indochinese architectural value of the Tax Trade Centre. All have recently disappeared into nothingness and oblivion.

The ancient heritage artworks on modern car hoods covers 

(Photo by: The Dreamers)

The “Territory” artwork in the “Thuy Phu” exhibition drew inspiration from the Ford Territory. The name itself has evoked inspiration for the artist to produce this work. Around parts of the Ford Territory are images of ancient architecture, such as The Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, My Son Sanctuary, Ho Dynasty Citadel, Tra Co Cathedral, and the Imperial City of Hue. Therefore, this artwork represents traces of heritage through memories.

The Ford Territory artwork by artist Trinh Minh Tien

(Photo by: The Dreamers)

“...The territory is not only a place to live but also a cultural value of generations in that area. Through selecting architectures, temples, and mausoleums carrying traces of humans in the region they exist, and showing them via raindrops covering the windshield of the Ford Territory, I want to connect all of them at the same time and space to synchronize the past, present, and future…” - Artist Trinh Minh Tien shared.

The "Territory" artwork in close-up

(Photo by: The Dreamers)

Saving old heritages with new ideas isn't about locking them up, but letting them be immersed in the rain of creativity. By turning used crafts into unique artworks, artist Trinh Minh Tien has contributed to the preservation of those heritages, which allows people to appreciate and gain insight into present values. This approach not only keeps the past alive but also makes it part of the future.

(Video by: The Dreamers)

The exhibition “Thuy Phu” was hosted at Gia Lam Train Factory, which carries traces of history and memories. Having survived severe bombardments and wary hardships, the Gia Lam Train Factory witnessed pages of turbulent history spanning almost 120 years. The place not only reminds us of the Industrial Revolution but also marks the development of the railway system in the early 20th century in Vietnam.

By The Dreamers.

On which other surfaces would you like to see cultural elements represented?

• 0%Personal items: phone cases, shoes, handbag,...
• 0%Forgotten spaces: abandon buidings, trash cans,...
• 0%Living pieces: leaves, petals, fallen trees,...
• 0%Everywhere and everything can be possible.