Architect Võ Trọng Hồng’s office is located on the fifth floor of an old building in Hanoi. Visiting his office in the early afternoon, I had a chance to talk with him about his changes in the past two years, about his practice and his big passion for painting. He also shared some parts about his up-coming book.
Dear Mr. Hồng, you have spent 2 years preparing for your book, and now it is almost ready.
Personally I have been the same in the past 2 years, my work hasn’t changed much. When I was painting before 2020, I realised that something had changed. This book is a collection of my paintings from 2017 to 2020 with the same thoughts and expressions. I have shared this to Mr. Hiếu and said I wanted to make a book about that period because there would be an end to it. This is how this book comes out.
Between architecture and painting, which do you feel easier to connect with?
When I freshly graduated from university, many ideas came to me, it seemed like everything was almost perfect when I was in school. Later on, when I got my job and took part in some designing events, I had more practical experiences, then I realised what I couldn’t do and balanced myself better. To me, architecture and painting are two different things. In paintings, emotions come first, it is the foundation and personal, I can control everything when I draw. Personally, architecture is a science that also encompasses emotions but very little. Everything in architecture and design requires a precise calculation of data and numbers. Hence, I am more connected to painting.
Editors
Phương Mây
Phạm Hà Thu
Time
03.2023
Location
Tôra Studio
Photos
Phương Mây
Translator
Phạm Hà Thu
Your architectural office was named TÔ Architecture, and now it is TÔ Design? Does this mark your transition in architecture?
From the first day I had this office, it didn’t really have a name. I considered this was just a place where people worked together, everyone in the office used to call it Tô. Now, it is officially named Tôra Studio – my friend gave it the name. In Japanese, Tora means tiger, additionally, it also means “moving forward”.
Tôra Studio seems to be under-the-radar on the Internet.
I think this is my time for practice, I wonder if my products are good or not. Honestly, I myself feel unready, I am not confident enough and I feel like I haven’t done very well. Fortunately, I got help from friends and acquaintances who introduced clients to me. With limited human resources, we only work on 2-3 projects a year.
Do you bring art in your design? How?
I do use art/painting in design. Painting is when I express myself through the influence of the subject on me to have emotional interference. The same in design, once I have a feeling I will think about what to shape it into. This is my personal feeling, there is no clear way to do it.
I have only practised designing for quite a short time, 2-3 years. What pleases and expresses me correctly is that standing-lamp over there. The iron stick I got from a warehouse and the lamp came to life without a single topic. I use what I have on hand so it was realised naturally and randomly.
In each project, I can see that you place a crafted product made by you.
It was not the only one who created these products, everyone in our office made them together. The designs basically depend on clients’ requirements and expectations, I am only a consultant and give out preferable solutions. I am just a supplementary one. It is needless to show my ego. I understand and respect them. About the objects I input in each design, I consider them as something that expresses myself in that place, it is a petite one but it is more present than something invisible like space, and so on. And that is somewhat a gift.
I like my handmade crafts because then I can express my thoughts, I have more opportunities to practise and understand many whys. When I was little, if I wanted a toy like a bow or a kite, I had to make it myself so the “do it myself” thing absorbed in me and has been there all the time.
Dó paper lamp
Design
Tôra Studio
Time
2022
Who is the one influencing you the most during your painting journey? Why?
There was a time when I graduated from university and started working. I still sketched but it was something very pure and random. At that time, working as an architect didn’t suit me so I quitted. Mrs. Thuý, an old painter, has inspired me a lot to continue watercolours painting. On Sundays, I followed her to draw. She didn’t have any framework or method for teaching, she helped arouse in me the feeling and sensation about the scene more clearly and sharply to bring in my paintings.
Why do you like sketching? Aside from using charcoal and watercolours, have you thought of using other kinds? Why?
I chose to sketch down my feelings at that moment and that space like writing dairies. I tried pastel colours aside from watercolours. They fit me well. I also do oil paintings. However, I guess it is not really suitable for me at this moment. Moreover, when sketching, watercolours dry very quickly so it helps to emphasise the timing element while drawing.
Most of your arts are sketches of landscapes, do you work on other styles? What criteria do you have to pick a location for your drawings?
This is just a personal option. I like something interactive enough for me. I can feel it or it affects me, coming purely from my senses. Honestly, I have no specific criteria. Beside sketching, I also do self-portraits, but I want to keep this to myself for now.
I have learnt that during your time in France, you participated in numerous exhibitions where your paintings were displayed. Does having a solo exhibition bring you many experiences? Could you share your most impressive exhibition with us?
I have earnt many experiences and they were all appreciated. The most memorable one must be my last exhibition in France. I was given a key to open the door of that gallery. It was a rainy morning, I thought no one would come early for the exhibition so I spent some time for my breakfast, had a coffee and walked around. When I arrived at the gallery, I saw an old couple standing in the rain on the opposite side. I looked at them and they looked at me back. I guessed they must have been waiting for somebody in the building next door. Finally when I opened the gallery’s door, they walked over to greet me. They said they came early but somehow the gallery was closed. They had no idea how to contact me so they stood there waiting. More than that, they lived far away, 120 km from the city I lived in.It was a precious moment to me. It is just way too great and I had no idea how I got it. Whenever I think about this memory, the image of the two elders standing in the rain crosses my mind like it was just yesterday.
An exhibition of Võ Trọng Hồng in France. : NVCC
Why are you publishing your book at this moment? What do you expect from it?
The time we completed the book was in 2021. Mr. Hiếu asked me: “What is this book for?” When holding the manuscript, I wondered if this book might help anyone. Personally, I wanted to archive those moments of my life. On the other hand, I think that if I had not met Mrs. Thuý, I would have been extremely happy to hold that book. It was like an encouragement, a sharing for people like me at that moment who were struggling to wonder if what they drew was beautiful or was considered to be art.
Your thoughts about your drawing at the moment.
Before, I mainly learnt to draw and practise techniques along with skills. Now, I personally see things can get through me more, I can express clearer my feelings on my paintings. It is like my perception of everything around processes through my brain and all those emotions then paint a picture. If I could only paint out a bit back in the day, my flow of emotion on my paintings are boardening up now. Which means having a certain object is no longer needed to trigger my emotions.
Tôra Studio in
Võ Trọng Hồng is a young architect, graduated from the Faculty of Architecture of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering. After his education in Vietnam, he continued to study abroad majoring in Architecture at the National University of Architecture in Grenoble, France.
Art is his modest hobby. He has started sketching since he was a student in university in Hanoi. When in France, he had chances to eye-gaze at French architecture and sketching has helped him capture those feelings when standing at these constructions.
After completing his master’s program, Võ Trọng Hồng returned to Vietnam and established an architecture and design office named Tôra Studio. At the same time, he has continued his watercolour sketching.
