Patchwork Art - Creativity Linked with Environmental Protection

The clothes we discard every day contribute significantly to environmental damage. Cotton production alone uses 10% of the world's agricultural chemicals and a staggering 25% of its pesticides. Even worse, polyester and nylon break down into microplastics that invade our food chain. Every day, I witnessed a significant amount of waste from outdated clothes and fabric scraps which inspired me to take action by creating artwork from discarded fabrics, aiming to reduce textile waste and turn trash into creative treasures.

My first fabric mosaic pieces were simple and imperfect, but my passion for art kept me going, spending hours meticulously cutting and assembling the fabric. This process has instilled in me a deep sense of patience and perseverance, further fueling my drive to pursue creative art.

The inspiration for my patchwork art is drawn from the natural beauty of my hometown. I paid careful attention to every detail, from collecting fabric scraps, often discarded from local tailor shops, to carefully sorting them by texture, color, and pattern. I spent hours experimenting with different combinations, patiently assembling each tiny piece of fabric into a larger mosaic.

Passion for Stage Performance

When I first stepped onto the stage in a small school role, my passion for performance was ignited. To me, each character felt like a novel waiting to be explored, revealing layers of emotion and hidden depths in their stories. Through acting, I immersed myself in the worlds of these characters, learning lessons that transcended the stage—lessons about empathy, resilience, and the complexity of human nature.

In annual school events, we brought iconic Vietnamese literary works to life, allowing me to dive even deeper into the cultural and historical significance of each role.

I also took on the role of MC for several school events. My first major opportunity was at the Tet Celebration event, with over 500 students and representatives from the Quang Ninh Youth Union. Standing on that stage, I felt proud to be the voice and "soul" of the event.

After that success, I hosted the Vietnam AI Contest 2023 awards ceremony, gathering nearly 300 participants. The energy and excitement of the audience fueled my confidence and inspired me to continue growing as a speaker. These experiences taught me valuable skills in communication, professionalism, and adaptability.

My passion for the performing arts has grown even stronger since participating in Integrate of Passion, the Art Club of Hạ Long High School for Gifted Students. As a Creative Director, I conceptualized and curated diverse performances including traditional and modern dance, instrument playing, and singing. Our showcase, The Charme - Student Talent and Beauty Contest 2023, attracted major sponsors and 2,000 live stream viewers. We also represented the school at the province-wide Youth Festival, earning both first and second-place awards.

Accompanying my parents on trips to different localities in Quảng Ninh, I had the opportunity to meet the locals and learn about their traditional culture. Interested in the nation's essence and concerned about the rise of electronic instruments overshadowing traditional ones, I founded Traditional Melodies, a Vietnamese folk music club, to raise awareness about these cultural treasures. We performed at weekly public street concerts in downtown Quang Ninh to bring traditional instruments closer to younger generations. We also organized a music show "Melodies of the Motherland," where our band played a variety of Vietnamese traditional instruments.

We also successfully hosted the event Echoes of Heritage in Ha Long, featuring 2 traditional Vietnamese folk music performances - Chèo and Đúm performances, which attracted over 100 attendees. The event included workshops and talks by local artists and experts, offering a deeper cultural experience.

These journeys provided me the opportunity to meet artists dedicated to preserving traditional values, and their stories continue inspiring me to protect and maintain these cultural values.