Thích Thú Sri Lanka
A personal artist book made between Vietnam and Sri Lanka. Quiet, hand-bound, and held together with a rubber band.
Thích Thú Sri Lanka is a personal artist book created after my first illustration exhibition in Colombo, Sri Lanka. While the original project — The Meeting in the Sky — was a large-scale kite installation featuring over 2,000 handcrafted animal-shaped kites, this book is far more intimate: an archive of impressions stitched together through paper, objects, and quiet details.
The title, Thích Thú, is a Vietnamese word that carries a quiet kind of playfulness. “Thích” means to enjoy, and “Thú” means animals — but when combined, the phrase simply means “delight.”
I chose it because it felt light, personal, and true to the heart of this project.
A name that holds both the joy of seeing animals take flight, and my own quiet affection for them.
A name that holds both the joy of seeing animals take flight, and my own quiet affection for them.
One of my favorite details is a stitched bookmark with a 1000 rupees note sewn on the back — the exact cost of a local head massage. I kept it there like a tiny voucher to use if I ever return.
One part of the book is a round zine — shaped like the inox plate used during a dinner I had at the kite artisan’s home.
I remember chatting with a friend while brainstorming how to capture that memory, and the idea of making the zine round — like a plate you could open — just clicked. I wouldn’t have landed on that shape without that conversation.
So I made it. A small, circular piece to hold a quiet evening I didn’t want to forget.
Not everything was made by hand.
But the parts that mattered were.
Book Credits
Art Direction &Illustration – Luongdoo
Design – Luongdoo
Creative Contributor – Thanh Van
Book Photography – Thuat V
Book Production - Cropmarks
Kite Photography – Nuwan Attanayake
Developed from The Meeting in the Sky, led by Kumkum Fernando for Cinnamon Life, produced by Ki Saigon. Special thanks to Radiesha for her invitation and support throughout the journey. With appreciation to Indraneel Guha for the time and trust that made this project possible.
Art Direction &Illustration – Luongdoo
Design – Luongdoo
Creative Contributor – Thanh Van
Book Photography – Thuat V
Book Production - Cropmarks
Kite Photography – Nuwan Attanayake
Developed from The Meeting in the Sky, led by Kumkum Fernando for Cinnamon Life, produced by Ki Saigon. Special thanks to Radiesha for her invitation and support throughout the journey. With appreciation to Indraneel Guha for the time and trust that made this project possible.
Elle Decoration
Huyền Đan
This Elle’s August issue features architect Huyền Đan, who is a practitioner of sustainable agriculture – Permaculture.
Link to read the article here.
Link to read the article here.
Art Director: Thùy Dương
Medium: Ink, graphite on paper, Photoshop, 15.5 x 5.5 in
Year: 2022
Medium: Ink, graphite on paper, Photoshop, 15.5 x 5.5 in
Year: 2022
Sketch stage
Although the line work is quite rudimentary, it shows the love of Huyền Đan and his associates for the work and the abundant essence of nature.
I chose blue and yellow-brown as primary colors for this illustration after much thought and consideration as they are the colors of indigo fabric and highland soil.
some inspiration from the pictures
A tiny worm climbing the hat,
eroded rocks and stones,
a deluge of rain,
a forest dust trail,
or even mosquitoes flying by
eroded rocks and stones,
a deluge of rain,
a forest dust trail,
or even mosquitoes flying by
A litte seed for me to sow
A little earth to make it grow
A little hole
A little pat
A little wish
Sun
Shower
And a little flower
For me to hold
To listen
To feel
A little earth to make it grow
A little hole
A little pat
A little wish
Sun
Shower
And a little flower
For me to hold
To listen
To feel
AFAR Magazine
Welcoming Committee
The featured full-page illustration is based on how hosts around the world warmly welcome guests using a variety of special traditions.
Client: AFAR Magazine
Creative Director: Supriya Kalidas
Art Director: Elizabeth See
Editor: Mae Hamilton
Medium: Pen and ink, Photoshop
Year: 2023
Creative Director: Supriya Kalidas
Art Director: Elizabeth See
Editor: Mae Hamilton
Medium: Pen and ink, Photoshop
Year: 2023
“At first, I viewed these countries as neighboring families”
With this in mind, I've worked to connect and rearrange the elements in an effort to create an illustration with a harmonious and cohesive whole.
Sketch Stage
My sketch makes sure that everything is neat, helps me shape exactly what I mean to draw into the work, and makes it easier to think about making changes.
Japan
Peru
People tend to wear more modern and casual clothes instead of traditional ones, which is a clear sign of urbanism.
Final Art
Each regional cluster in the illustration still recognizes the uniqueness of each country's traditional hospitality.
The Mori greeting of wiping one's nose and pressing one's forehead against another, Peruvian families' chicha, and the Japanese tradition of sending distinctive gifts to friends and family all convey a sense of intimacy and warmth.
To read the article, download the AFAR Magazine app to grab a copy online
—or pick up a copy at newsstands.
Bưu Hoa Việt Nam
Vương
An illustration based on the substance of some old Vietnamese poetry I've archived.
Medium: Pen and ink, Photoshop
See more at Buu Hoa Viet Nam
See more at Buu Hoa Viet Nam
You Aren't Fighting Alone
P, Yên Bái
The illustration is based on a true story that the anonymous female character told about her experience with breast cancer.
The book “Khong Chien Dau Mot Minh” (You Aren't Fighting Alone) which came out in October 2022, has more than 20 genuine stories.
The book “Khong Chien Dau Mot Minh” (You Aren't Fighting Alone) which came out in October 2022, has more than 20 genuine stories.
Client: Phu Nu Kien Cuong Non-profit Organization
Art Director: Duy Dao
Art Director: Duy Dao
