Focus: Explore your parent’s birthplace, childhood, family tree, and ancestral roots.
Questions
FIRST PROJECT
Can you describe the first artistic project or creation that you were really proud of?
What inspired you to create it?
How did you go about creating this project?
What feedback did you receive, and how did it influence your future projects?
TRADITIONAL ART
What role has traditional art played in your creative expressions?
Are there specific Vietnamese art forms you are drawn to?
How have you incorporated these traditions into your work?
Can you share an example of a piece that was heavily influenced by Vietnamese culture?
EVOLVING TALENT
How has your artistic or creative talent evolved over the years?
What were your initial interests and how have they changed?
What or who were your biggest influences in shaping your creativity?
How do you continue to nurture and develop your talent today?
CREATIVE SOLUTION
Discuss a time when you used your creativity to solve a problem.
What was the challenge, and how did you approach it?
How did your artistic or creative skills contribute to the solution?
What was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?
FAVOURITE ARTWORK
Can you share the story behind one of your favourite pieces of art or creative works?
What is the piece, and what inspired it?
What materials or techniques did you use?
How was this piece received by others, and what does it mean to you?
YET TO DEVELOP
What artistic or creative skill do you wish you had more time to develop, and why?
What attracts you to this skill or medium?
How would you go about learning or improving this skill?
How do you think this skill could enhance your current creative repertoire?
CREATIVE BLOCK
How do you overcome creative blocks or lack of inspiration?
Can you describe a time when you faced a creative block?
What strategies do you use to find inspiration?
How do you keep yourself motivated during challenging creative periods?
MUSIC
Discuss the importance of music in your life and any musical talents you have.
What role does music play in your daily routine or significant life events?
Do you play any instruments or sing, and how did you learn?
Can you share a memorable experience related to your musical expression?
CREATIVE PROCESS
What does the creative process look like for you?
How do you begin a new project or piece?
What steps do you follow from conception to completion?
How do you know when a work is finished?
CREATIVE BALANCE
How do you balance your creative pursuits with other responsibilities?
What challenges do you face in finding time for creativity?
How do you prioritise your artistic activities?
What advice would you give to others struggling to balance creativity with daily life?
MISSED VISION
Can you discuss an artistic or creative project that didn't turn out as planned and what you learned from it?
What was the original vision, and what was the outcome?
How did you adapt or respond to the unexpected results?
What lessons did this experience teach you about creativity and flexibility?
SHARING
How has sharing your art or creative works with others enriched your life?
What platforms or venues have you used to share your work?
How do you feel when you receive feedback or recognition?
Can you share a particularly meaningful interaction you've had as a result of your art?
TRADITIONAL MATERIALS
Discuss how you’ve incorporated traditional materials or techniques into your creative work.
What materials or techniques have you explored?
How did you learn about these methods, and what challenges did you face in mastering them?
Can you provide an example of a piece where you've successfully incorporated these elements?
CULTURAL PRESERVATION
What role do you think creativity plays in cultural preservation and expression, especially within the Vietnamese context?
How do you view your creative work in the context of cultural heritage?
Can you discuss a piece or project that was particularly meaningful in terms of cultural expression?
How do you balance innovation with tradition in your work?
THE NEXT GENERATION
How do you approach teaching or passing on your creative skills to younger generations?
What skills are you most passionate about teaching?
How do you make learning these skills engaging for younger people?
What do you hope they take away from your teachings?
COLLABORATION
Reflect on a collaborative creative project and the dynamics of working with others.
What was the project, and who did you collaborate with?
How did you navigate creative differences or challenges?
What did you learn about teamwork and collaboration through this project?
NATURE
Discuss the role of nature or your environment in inspiring your creative work.
How does your immediate environment or the natural world influence you?
Can you share an example of a piece directly inspired by nature or your surroundings?
How do you incorporate environmental themes into your work?
IMPACT
What impact do you hope your creative works have on others or society?
What messages or feelings do you aim to convey through your art?
Can you discuss a time when you felt your work made a real impact?
How do you measure the success or significance of your creative expressions?
TECHNOLOGY
How has technology influenced your artistic or creative process?
What technological tools or platforms do you use in your work?
How has technology changed the way you create or share your art?
What are the benefits and challenges of integrating technology into your creative process?
FOLK ART
Share your experiences with traditional crafts or folk arts.
Which crafts or folk arts have you practised or are interested in?
How were these skills learned, and what significance do they hold for you?
How do you see these traditional arts fitting into modern life?
TRAVEL
Discuss how travel or exposure to other cultures has influenced your creative perspective.
What places have significantly impacted your artistic viewpoint?
How have you incorporated cross-cultural influences into your work?
Can you share a piece that was inspired by your travels or cultural exchanges?
STORYTELLING
Reflect on the role of storytelling in your art or creative expressions.
How do you use storytelling or narrative elements in your work?
Can you discuss a piece that tells a particularly meaningful story?
What do you believe is the power or importance of storytelling in art?
ACTIVISM
How do you see the relationship between art and activism, especially in the context of local issues?
Have you ever used your art to address social issues?
How do you navigate the balance between expression and activism?
Can you share an example of a work that was driven by activist intentions?
CHALLENGES
What challenges have you faced in pursuing your artistic or creative passions, and how have you addressed them?
What obstacles have impeded your creative journey?
How have you overcome these challenges to continue creating?
What advice do you have for others facing similar challenges?
MENTORSHIP
Discuss the importance of mentorship in developing your creative talents.
Have you had a mentor, and how have they influenced you?
What have you learned from this mentorship relationship?
How do you or would you mentor someone else in your artistic field?
PERSONAL IDENTITY
Reflect on how you incorporate elements of your personal identity or experiences into your creative work.
How does your identity influence your art or creativity?
Can you share a piece that is particularly personal or reflective of your experiences?
How do you navigate the vulnerability of putting personal aspects into your work?
CHANGES IN STYLE AND MEDIUM
Discuss the changes in your creative style or medium over time.
How has your style or preferred medium changed?
What influenced these changes or explorations?
How do you anticipate your creative expression evolving in the future?
COMMUNITY
Share how you’ve engaged with the artistic or creative community, both locally and beyond.
How do you connect with other artists or creatives?
What communities or networks have been most influential for you?
How do you contribute to or participate in these communities?
BEYOND COMFORT ZONE
Reflect on a piece of art or a project that pushed you out of your comfort zone.
What was the project, and why was it challenging?
How did you approach and ultimately complete this challenge?
What did you learn about yourself and your creative limits?
HEALING
Discuss the therapeutic or healing aspects of art and creativity in your life.
How has art served as a form of therapy or healing for you?
Can you share an experience where creating helped you cope or heal?
What advice do you have for others looking to art for healing?
CRITIQUE
How do you approach critiques of your creative work?
How do you feel about receiving critiques?
What’s the most constructive feedback you’ve received, and how did you apply it?
How do you balance staying true to your vision with considering external feedback?
SHOW PREPARATION
Share the process of preparing for a show, exhibition, or public sharing of your work.
How do you select which pieces to show or share?
What preparations are involved in getting ready for an exhibition or performance?
How do you handle the nerves or excitement of presenting your work to an audience?
PATIENCE
Discuss the role of patience and perseverance in your artistic or creative endeavours.
Can you share a time when patience paid off in your work?
How do you keep going when a project is particularly frustrating or challenging?
What advice do you have for cultivating patience in creative work?
FEEDBACK
Reflect on how you integrate feedback into your creative process.
How do you incorporate others' ideas or feedback into your work?
Can you share an example of a project and its outcome following adaptation to feedback?
What have you learned from working creatively with feedback?
ORIGINALITY
Discuss the importance of originality in your work and how you strive for it.
How do you define originality in art or creativity?
What steps do you take to ensure your work is unique?
How do you handle influences or similarities to other works?
GIVING BACK
Share how you've used your art or creativity to connect with or give back to your community.
What projects or initiatives have you been involved in?
How does your work contribute to or enhance your community?
What do you gain from these experiences of giving back?
COMPETITIVENESS
How have you navigated professional competitiveness in your artistic or creative career, and what impact has it had on your work?
Can you describe a specific situation where you faced significant competition, and how you responded to it?
How do you balance collaboration with competition in creative environments?
What lessons have you learned about fostering creativity and innovation while dealing with competitive pressures?
CULTURAL HERITAGE
Discuss the role of cultural heritage in your creative expressions.
How do you draw upon your cultural heritage in your work?
Can you share how specific aspects of your culture have influenced a project or piece?
How important is it to you that your work reflects your cultural background?
BUSINESS
Share insights on managing the business side of being an artist or creative.
How do you handle the marketing, sales, or financial aspects of your work?
What challenges have you faced in making your art financially sustainable?
What advice would you give to artists struggling with the business side of creativity?
ADVOCACY
Reflect on a time when you had to advocate for your art or creative vision.
What was the situation, and why did you need to advocate for your work?
How did you go about defending or promoting your vision?
What was the outcome, and what did you learn from the experience?