Meet artist from Ho Chi Minh City, Toma Nguyen

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I really like drawing and I have a bit of a closed personality. Mostly, I communicate with people through my works.

Describe the city you’re living in and what it’s like to live there.

I currently live and work in Ho Chi Minh City. I think this place is a dynamic city. It’s fast-paced here, and it always pushes me to improve myself and work harder. Besides this, cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City is really great too.

I think this place is a dynamic city. It’s fast-paced here, and it always pushes me to improve myself and work harder.

What is the best and worst thing about living in your city?

The best thing is that you can be yourself. If you want to do something you can just try your best, work hard, and be creative. This place will always create opportunities for you to grow.

The worst thing is the pace. It is too fast sometimes that you can’t perform your best at work.

Give us 3 words that describe what it’s like to be a creative in your city.

Energy, happy, and inspiring.

How did you start your career in art?

I have a passion for drawing since I was young. Part of it was inspired by Japanese manga comics. As I got older, I started to study drawing and created my own style. That’s how I became an illustration artist.

I have a passion for drawing since I was young. Part of it was inspired by Japanese manga comics.

Were the people around you supportive of your decision on working as a creative?

Luckily my family and friends are always supportive of me, which allowed me to turn my talent into my current job. I have to keep their trust in me that I can complete every work that I do, and let them know that drawing isn’t an agent to make me struggle in life.

What are some goals and ambitions you have for your future work?

I’m an illustration artist in Vietnam and I want to have an opportunity to communicate and work with other artists in different countries so I can improve myself. To archive this, I want to improve my language ability.

If you could collaborate with any person in the world who would it be?

If I could collaborate with anyone at home and aboard, I would be very happy. I hope one day I can have a project with artist Victo Ngai.

How would you describe the women around you?

Women around me are active and have strong-willed. They are independent and they dare to do what they think. This has a big effect in me.

Women around me are active and have strong-willed. They are independent and they dare to do what they think. This has a big effect in me.

Were there any local female creatives that you looked up to when you were growing up?

I admire Khoa Le, she is a Vietnamese talented illustrator. While studying, seeing her works made me admire and try harder with my decision to get into illustration.

Are there any challenging aspects of being a female in your industry?

People often think that illustration is an unstable job in Vietnam, which prevents many female artists from continuing their dreams, forcing them to give up or do other parallel work. Besides, women have to do a lot of housework, which doesn’t give them enough time to focus on their hobbies.

People often think that illustration is an unstable job in Vietnam, which prevents many female artists from continuing their dreams, forcing them to give up or do other parallel work.

Do you have any advice to young women who are aspiring to work in your field?

Always be strong. Keep your passions alive and work hard. Work hard everyday to make your dreams comes true.

Photos courtesy of Toma Nguyen.