Today we’d like to introduce you to Vinh Huynh.
Hi Vinh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Vietnam; I came to the USA in 2017 and currently live and study in Columbus, GA. When I was in Vietnam, my mom was a tailor, and my dad was a jewelry maker. Therefore, I’ve been exposed to craftsmanship since I was little. Creating and making things became my passion and comfort zone because it allowed me to forget about all the stress. However, my passion also led me to many troubles. I spent hours drawing in my textbooks and got detention in school. One time, I stole my mom’s fabric to make random things, and my mom grounded me because it was an expensive fabric. I love art-making, but I didn’t consider becoming an artist in Vietnam because it is a third-world country where society values other hands-on careers, so artists don’t have room to grow. Until I came to America, I found an opportunity to pursue my dream to become an artist. When I first came to the United States, I didn’t speak English, and I struggled in school. Fortunately, I had great teachers and friends who were patient and supportive. I was the only Vietnamese kid in my school, so I had the motivation to learn English quickly. With the encouragement of family and friends, I worked hard and graduated from Spencer High School as the Salutatorian class of 2020. I am currently a sophomore at Columbus State University. My goal at CSU is to perform my best and finish my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking concentration.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am a Vietnamese immigrant who came to the United States for the American Dream. Before coming here, I always thought this was a nation where people cherish freedom, equal rights, and welcome diversity. However, I realized it was not the land of opportunity that I thought it was. I saw police brutality on the TV. I saw discrimination against immigrants in the newspapers. I saw people hate and attack each other during the pandemic on social media. I saw a couple of people holding signs cursing other religious groups and the LGBTQ+ community across the street. I am deeply upset that so much hatred and xenophobia are destroying humanity, empathy, and compassion in people. As an immigrant, I sometimes experience feelings of not being enough and being an outcast. As a queer person, I’ve struggled to find my voice and fight against the prejudice toward my community. It has not been a smooth road, but I still keep hope and positivity for a better future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have experienced myself with a variety of art mediums, including watercolor painting, acrylic painting, digital photography, and printmaking. However, I am most interested in photography and printmaking. I’ve gained unique perspectives from multiple cultures, which has enhanced my artistry. As an artist in America, I want to bring pieces of my culture into the diversity of the United States. Most of my work is about Vietnamese immigrants and queer identity. I hope my work will make my audiences who share the same experience feel that they are not alone and receive the representation that they deserve. I am also interested in making art about social issues. I had an opportunity to paint a mural project called Advocacy Through Art with other local artists. It was exhibited in downtown Columbus to raise awareness of racism and social injustice. I also showed two of my works for the “We Cannot Walk Alone,” – a public art exhibition in downtown Columbus in October 2020. This exhibition was one of our community’s peaceful responses to amplify marginalized voices, address social injustice, and hope for change in Columbus and throughout the world.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson that I’ve learned is to overcome rejections. Rejection is brutal, and I got rejected from jobs and opportunities. However, success cannot be attained without any failure. To overcome rejections, I applied my best effort and tried to improve my effectiveness. This helped me face the rejections with a positive attitude and never give up trying.
Contact Info:
- Email: huynhvinhlht@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.vinh.art/
