MienDinh/FAQ
- Dinh Mien
- May 23
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 5
"I do not believe in simple idea. I do believe everything is complex, untill we are fully understand it, then, it will be as simple as we think it was." - MienDinh at FPT University | Workshop 2024
Vu Duc Minh, codenamed "MienDinh", is an emerging artist in Vietnam.
Born in the North but journeying to the South, he dives headfirst into the rich cultural tapestry of both regions! In the North, he embraces the renowned discipline and structure, while in the South, he revels in the exhilarating freedom to explore and learn.
Harnessing the best of both worlds, he proudly dubs himself the Northern Wind in the South, poised to unleash a thrilling new wave of ideas, art, and concepts into reality!
.
What does he do?
Mien Dinh is a dynamic emerging artist! He doesn't just label himself as a painter, poet, photographer, or perfumer. If it's art, he's absolutely thrilled to dive in and explore it with passion and dedication!
Where does he base?
Hochiminh City, Vietnam
What type of Art does he offer?
Painting, drawing, visual art, conceptual photography, literature and poems
BIOGRAPHY
Mien was born on a crisp autumn day, September 28, 1998—just before the turn of the millennium. Raised in Vietnam during a time of rapid cultural and technological change, he grew up amidst the rising influence of the Internet, global media, and a shifting generational identity—too early for Gen Z, too late for Alpha.
EARLY LIFE
Mien Dinh’s early life was shaped by his father, an architect, who raised two sons surrounded by canvases, blueprints, dust and industrial oil cans, and the raw beauty of construction.
Inspired by this environment, Mien pursued drawing with dreams of becoming an interior architect. That path, however, was derailed by a serious traffic accident that injured his dominant hand—a defining moment he refers to as one of his "Deadly Great-Pains."
Redirecting his creative energy, Mien earned a Bachelor of Professional Communication from RMIT University, specializing in Public Relations and exploring creative strategy and conceptual design. His work today reflects a blend of structured storytelling and a lifelong dialogue between loss, transformation, and expression.
I was born too early to be a Gen Z, but too soon to be an Alpha as well. - Mien's words in one of his journal
AFTER GRADUATED:
Unwavering, Mien resumed painting with his right hand from winter 2019 to the present. He began this journey in a wooden cabin on Wolf Hill, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province.
What sparked Mien's passion was an unpaid job as a stylist for a singer, goes by the name of Jackie Njine. The task was to assigned him the role of a stylist. During the filming of the music video, he was also asked to create a painting to be used as a prop in the video.
During that period, he created approximately 5-6 artworks. Most of these remained at the wooden cabin because it was challenging to transport them back to Ho Chi Minh City by plane. He only took one piece home, "Blue Ocean & Red Sky," which he later gave to Tran Vy Binh.
After rediscovering his passion for art, Mien consistently created artwork over time. He also discovered his interest in a simple yet challenging technique called "Impasto," which he often refers to as "Knife Painting." This eventually led to some positive outcomes for him. In 2022, his artworks were submitted to the non-profit organization Toi, Chung Ta for an exhibition that was seeking artist entries. He received recognition for "The Most Admired Piece."
EDITORIAL LIFE:
After a second great pain where he got cheated and manipulated in a relationship, Mien was in a deep depression and could not recover during 2022. Until one day, he decided to follow the path of luxury industries where he believed one day he could expose the lies of his ex. He enrolled himself in an international magazine as a marketer. From time to time, he contributed articles, mostly about fashion (sartorial) or fragrance (grooming). Here, he met great mentors who shaped his mindset regarding work and aesthetics. One of the mentors, whom he would refer to as Senpai, was the poet Nam Thi, who also collected one of his paintings via Mien's offer as a thank you.
He departed from the Magazine in May 2023. However, he soon realized it was a mistake to join another group of work that was unrelated to his interests. During this period, Mien also halted the release of more quality art. He referred to this experience as "a disgraceful time in my life for pursuing the most misguided ideology."
He left in 2024 to embark on the journey of "1 year of art". At this stage, he also enrolled for the Master Degree of Marcom, which he started to feel the love for teaching and lecturing.
PERIOD "1 YEAR OF ART"
Focusing solely on art and research, he began exploring psychological reading and art theory. This year, he also found himself repelled by generative "art," which conflicted with his beliefs.
During this time, he joyfully reconnected with Manh Cuong, the vibrant owner of VNArtspace and Hoa Si Cafe. Manh Cuong has always been a passionate art patron, dedicated supporter, and enthusiastic promoter of young artists. Mien often visited Hoa Si, where he eagerly created most of his paintings in this inspiring space. It was here that he met a wonderful group of new friends who also worked in the art world, including the talented painter Nam Nguyen (M.Teppy) and the aspiring curator Tho Vu.
During this period, he was approached by a UOB agent who invited him to participate in the UOB & Art contest. Feeling inspired to create, he agreed and submitted the painting "Thousands Love Cuts of the Moon" (a wordplay in Vietnamese: Một Ngàn Lớp Cắt). Unfortunately, the piece was not recognized. However, he was so energized and motivated to create art that Mien completed the entire "Thousand Love Cuts" collection.
SONG TRUNG SONG SHOWCASE
Mien Dinh created a big, good, and large, not just one collection in 2024, but 3: Thousands Love Cuts, Peliculiar Objects, and Red Room. Amongs all, his most favourite is Red Room, which all of the artwork was impersonate his inner color: Red.
"Every part of Red Room represents me, myself, and I," Mien Dinh told the audience at the showcase.
During this period, he also met Mai Dang Luan, a young art director and fellow fashion enthusiast. Together, they produced two short art clips. The third clip, which was a talent's cut, was directed and edited by Mien himself, based on the first and second art pieces.
THAT'S IT, FOR NOW.
Our author will keep this section posted.
