Zen Master Thích Nhất Hạnh once shared a profound thought: “Life is full of change.” Yet, even as everything shifts, we do not necessarily change our destination. This saying perfectly reflects the journey of the founder of Dong Tan Art Gallery.
From a very young age, he nurtured a dream of becoming a painter. Fate seemed to smile upon him when he was accepted into an art school. Coming from a rural background, he made the courageous decision to remain in Hanoi in search of opportunities to develop himself and his career. However, the road was far from easy. Vietnam had only recently emerged from economic sanctions, and the social and economic conditions were still challenging. To survive, he temporarily set aside his artistic dream to earn a living.
Ironically, it was this working environment that allowed him to travel extensively, encounter diverse cultures, and build friendships and partnerships with international colleagues. These experiences gradually enriched his knowledge, broadened his worldview, and shaped his philosophy of life.
He also ventured into business, experiencing both success and failure along the way. With his characteristic sense of humor, he often joked, “When an artist goes into business, bankruptcy is inevitable.” Perhaps this was his humble way of masking the material hardships of life—while quietly gathering strength to continue pursuing an unfinished dream.
Life truly flows like a natural current; what is meant to come will come. The COVID-19 pandemic may have served as a turning point—a moment that allowed him to let go and return to art, to his true self.
Drawing upon his experience in the business world, combined with his artistic background and his ability to evaluate contemporary Vietnamese art movements and styles, and with the encouragement of fellow artists, he founded www.dongtanartgallery.com
. The gallery’s core mission is to discover new talent and support fellow artists, bringing high-quality Vietnamese artworks to art lovers both at home and abroad.
He is also deeply inspired by the words of the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu:
“Follow the natural way—do your work with joy, give your best effort, and whatever the result may be, remain joyful.”
