KV Duong
Please could you tell us a little about yourself and your background
My family and I were born in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We immigrated to Canada when I was 6 years old. In Vietnam, my father was a plumber/ electrician, and my mother was a baker/ homemaker. When we moved to Canada, they worked in manual labour to support the family. All three of my aunts worked in hair salons, so this would come closest to having a creative practice.
My first exposure to galleries and museums was in high school through the arts program and school visits.
Did you have an interest in the arts as a child?
Recalling the prolonged winter days in Canada, I reminisce about our humble beginnings as an immigrant family, devoid of abundant financial resources or avenues for outdoor winter activities. Consequently, I would occupy myself by drawing on A4 sheets of paper, sitting on the floor with the printer box serving as my makeshift table. Despite the chaotic crowded home environment, I would immerse myself in my own world of artistic creation.
Did you have a formal art education or are you self-taught
I am a self-taught artist with a Bachelor and a Master degree in Structural Engineering and seven years of active artistic practice. My journey of self-education involves training with various mentors, participating in online critique sessions, extensive reading and research on other artists' practices, and attending art exhibitions and fairs to gain insights into the workings of the art market.
If all goes right in the next few months, I should be starting an MA in Fine Arts this autumn.
Was there a moment or a person or a place in your past that influenced you or you feel set you on the journey to where you are now?
Probably growing up with my parents in a nurturing household has influenced me the most. My strong work ethic and focus can be attributed to my father, while my empathetic and compassionate nature is instilled by my mother.
What’s the best thing about being an artist?
Art offers the freedom to explore and not be constraint by gravity (at least most of the time unlike structural engineering). Creating art challenges and expands my ways of thinking about the world.
And the worst..!?
Admin, endless admin!
Putting practical considerations aside, it's evident that barriers persist on all fronts, be it race (fortunately not so much with sexual orientation) or socio-economic background. Establishing a sustainable art practice can be an uphill challenge if you lack an extensive network or adequate financial resources.
What has inspired or influenced you?
My everyday experiences of living in London and interacting with my peers and the world around us.
What international art destination do you most want to visit?
I’ve had the privilege to visit the Venice Biennale twice and Art Basel once. I think the next destination on my list is the Asia Pacific Triennial in Australia.
Please tell us about your working environment…
I have a home studio. The dining table serves as a work desk and the walls and floor serve as larger working surfaces. Studio time is intertwined with the business side of art and everyday living tasks.
Please tell us a little about the process involved in making your art?
It’s very experimental. I’m constantly exploring different ways of making. The idea comes first, then the best medium is chosen to process these ideas. There is a lot of on-the-spot problem solving.
NO PLACE LIKE HOME
Where are you finding ideas and inspiration for your work currently?
Collaborating with a close-knit group of artists, I am currently working on a group exhibition about the Vietnamese diaspora in London, slated to open at the Museum of The Home in mid-April. Over the past few months, we have been bouncing ideas off each other daily, offering critical feedback that has significantly contributed to the development of the project.
If you weren’t an artist what would you be?
There is no other option.
What advice would you give to those aspiring to make a living out of art?
I’m not yet in this situation but aspire to have a sustainable practice within the next three years. I’m trying to achieve this goal but showing up every day.
What is the most important thing to know about you?
Driven, focused, friendly, open but discerning with my time.
Please tell us one unexpected thing about yourself.
Guilty pleasures: One McD’s breakfast meal on the weekend, almond croissant, figure skating on YouTube.
Live interview with Lesley coming soon on YouTube for Pure members.
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