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“SERIES: HOMAGE TO THE YOUNG, THE NEW & THE EXCEPTIONAL CREATIVE TALENTS AROUND THE WORLD”READ THIS FIRST: All images here are COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. You are advised to contact the artist direct for permission to re-produce any of his/her images. Contact details are available at the end of this article, or in absence thereof, please contact the writer.

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With Minh Dam’s architectural renderings and water colours, you cannot help but break away momentarily to take a quiet pensive and romantic tour musing in your mind on the age-defying grand architectural structures of the old world, and to realise how in Europe, they seem to fit so comfortably tucked amidst the modern bland chrome and glass construction of our times, and also, how they always seem to be able to wrap you in a soft glow of nostalgic yearning of things past.Minh Dam does not intentionally try to use his gift as a creative soul to do anything but flow and project what he sees and absorbs of atmospheric auras from an architectural subject matter he encounters, and one he so effectively translates into visual delights for our pleasure.

His use of water-colour – to soften the strict training of an architectural background and control in rendering steady lines and angles so we observe perfect construction of dimension and form as they are presented to us with close to accurate perspective – is unusual.Minh breaks the strictures of his training with gentleness, and proves how effective he is in delivering to us the hidden sparkle and precious life of something aged and decaying, and not known to exist and breathe any more among the living of our generation. He does this naturally without any ulterior intentions, and through his work, we are made to look up, to marvel again and, more importantly, to take note with new eyes the subject of his focus.

His visuals call attention to an ancient beauty and makes us wonder of a world and the possibilities of “what-ifs” of eras long gone, and oftentimes forgotten. His water-colour brings so much needed light and infusion of gentle hues into what we know and understand to be destitute, pitiful and forgotten buildings, and we are, thankfully, allowed to partake of inspiring visions, and to somehow feel the shedding of stress and loads from our own very real and dreary existence, as we enter this magical world of visionary transformation.

I was extremely curious about Minh, and I asked him the following questions:

What do you enjoy doing and how do you translate what you see to visuals?Minh: I very much enjoy travelling. I have been to many places like Paris, Barcelona, etc., to see great architectural works and it has always been my interest to capture those moments on paper, but never by photography.

That is the reason why I don’t paint with oil or acrylic. I also am not drawn to producing abstract work with hidden meanings in it. My intention is just to show an environment of a place, the ambience of a time, really what I feel at that very moment.

“Inside La Sagrada Famillia”

How long have you felt the interest in drawing?

Minh: I started drawing about two years ago, but of course, before my works were created with pencil until I felt comfortable and better with watercolour.

Why have you chosen architectural design?

Minh: I am currently studying architecture in the Technical University in Warsaw, Poland, as I want to become an architect, not a painter

Do you feel you have gained something from studying your art form?

Minh: Well, I don’t think I can gain big money for my work. With the water colour and renderings, I draw purely for my own pleasure, or as a gift for my friends, or maybe sometime for little money but I have never sold my works before … in fact, I have never considered to sell my work seriously.

“Kaplica Zygmuntowska”

Are you able to see things differently now from before with observing the subjects you paint?

Minh: Yes of course, since the moment I started drawing and painting, I am able to see more colours, I analyze them. I see that, for example, a tree can have other colour than green, I think with some colour, for example, red, that can create other effect and other colour, or the infusion of light, or when we put the object far away from us, it produces a different perspective all the time.

I also see more in some buildings. Usually I see in my mind what is on the second side of this building, the other dimension. I visualize in lines inside a building.

What were your early influences and who are your current influence? What do you look out for?

Minh: Before, with watercolour, I was drawn to the works of Joseph Zbukvic. His works in watercolour had specific effectiveness and resonance for me. These days, I try to develop my own individual style

“Akwila”

How special is your work? How do you render your style?

Minh: It is very rare to find some people who create architectural paintings. I do my watercolour works with two styles. I try to paint several details to show how this building looks like, or I paint without detail to project ambience and the “climate” of a place.

Maybe the creation of perceived ambience on watercolour works are common, but is very rare to find someone who would use watercolour for painting details, I believe.

“Technical University in Warsaw, Poland”

Do you feel people are drawn to your work?

Minh: I have no idea! Perhaps my art is attractive to architects because my art form deals with architectural perspectives. I try to project the style of a particular building. Ech! I really have no idea!

Maybe my art is only attractive to my friends in my university who do like me painting architectural perspectives.

“Rainy Day”

What do you feel are your best works, why? And what were the inspiration behind them?

Minh: The work entitled “Rainy Day”, is one I won a contest with and it is about this place in one small province in Warsaw, Poland. All the buildings there were in terrible state, and the objective of the contest was to “show people and convince or motivate them to repair”.

In this art I wanted to show the terrible state and ambience of the place, and I believe I succeeded.

With the work entitled, “Casa Batllo”, I feel this is my best art which I finished in Barcelona and it is truly the best of me. The architecture is by Antoni Gaudi and it was very hard to draw, especially with water colour. It took several effort and focus on details and it was very difficult for me to execute the details.

“Casa Batllo”

With this piece of art, I had wanted to show the beautiful details on the Casa Batllo and to capture the great sun light in Barcelona.

Do you feel that the architectural designing is highly competitive? How do you see yourself within it?

Minh: For me of course yes, because my art is only attractive to a small group of people, and also, I do not draw very much subjects so I don’t feel my art is enough for me to survive on.

What are your visions and hopes for the near and distant future?

Minh: I want to finish my studies and obtain eventually good work as an architect or designer. Of course, I continue to strive to perfect my drawing skill which I hope will also be put to great use one day. I am always hopeful of the future.

Dam Minh is from Vietnam and he has lived in Poland for fifteen years.