As Saigon Gold Signs marks its 5th anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on the challenges, breakthroughs, and the inspiring resilience that have defined Thien’s path.
A Journey of Determination
In his early 20’s, Thien’s direction was very uncertain when he failed his University degree and was surviving on minimum wage jobs just to pay the bills. For 3 years, he struggled to find his identity, wondering if he would ever find a way forward. Having grown up around creativity and having a strong interest in graphic design, the breakthrough finally came when he received offers from 3 pioneering animation studios for his graphic design work, and he then went on to set up his own animation studio in 2018, @callimotion. It was a humble start with just 1 staff member, and now this successful animation studio has a team of 9!
@callimotion
Discovering the Art of Gilding
As a graphic designer, Thien was always interested in lettering and typography, and he started looking at artists’ work from overseas, and he never imagined that one day he would produce work that was even close to that quality. He bought a book of gold leaf to experiment with, thinking it looked an easy process, but found it was a lot more difficult than it looked! After attending a workshop in Thailand, learning about acid etching, gold blending and brushwork, the foundations were laid.
A Life-Changing Experience in the UK
In 2022, a trip to the UK changed everything when Thien did a 6-day workshop with the legendary @davesmithartist in Torquay. This is an experience he will never forget. Dave taught him so many techniques and gave him lots of cool tips to make his work better and more refined. On leaving the UK, Dave gave Thien a signed artwork with a personal message added, “ Keep the Craft Alive”.
On the same visit, it was lovely to welcome Thien to Wales, where he visited us to stock up with his gold leaf and signwriting supplies and had a little tour of our lovely coastline (although he was freezing!!)
Merging Tradition with Innovation
Returning to Vietnam, Thien wanted to combine the skills that he had learned in the West with designs that reflect his Vietnamese heritage. “I take inspiration from Vietnamese arts and crafts and the Ho Chi Minh City’s Museum of Art with its beautiful gates and railings and incorporate it into my designs. Good design is the basis of every project”.
We have recently had a reciprocal visit to Saigon in February (we were definitely not freezing!), and it was a pleasure to have Thien as our very own walking tour guide of the city. We were delighted to see his beautiful artworks up close and personal, both in his studio and at various points in the city.
The Art of Resilience
Now, entering his 30s, Thien looks back with pride and reflection on the fact that he has stayed true to his vision no matter what obstacles were in his way. Overcoming a dark time, facing the shadows and breaking through to manage 2 flourishing businesses, Thien is grateful for the highs and lows and believes that goodness wins through. His dedication, passion and determination have allowed him to create his own version of success. His passion for the craft of reverse glass gilding is stronger than ever. It’s a long and winding road ahead but he is determined to strive to be better, learn and build on his skills and leave a lasting legacy in the world of reverse glass art. We have absolutely no doubt that this will be the case. He deserves the utmost recognition.
The video shown below – Resilience – which was filmed and edited almost entirely by Thien, catalogues his journey beautifully:
When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up.
Each letter I form becomes a step towards light.
Art isn’t just creation, it’s survival.
The same hand that trembles can still make beauty.
We honour those we lost by continuing to create.
By being Resilient.
Watch the full “Resilience” video and celebrate Thien’s incredible journey with us. Here’s to five years of Saigon Gold Signs, and many more to come!