Havufrvn - From sunny days to positive, colorful artworks

“My greatest creative inspirations come from daily life, every object, every phenomena, process, every thing going on around me. In the life I’m experiencing, I think that’s where I find the most inspiration.” - Illustrator and artist Ha Vu.

1. What is your inspiration for art?

Havu: I’m Ha Vu. I moved to Ho Chi Minh City almost two years ago. Currently, I’m a freelance artist, and I’m also studying for a master’s degree in visual arts at Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts.

I have 2 brands of my own that I’m building, which are HAVU Art studio and havufrvn. The first brand, HAVU Art studio is where I interact and connect with art lovers and local artists in Ho Chi Minh city. I also organize art workshops to introduce methods and art materials to everyone so that they can experience art in the quickest and most interesting way.

Regarding the brand 'havufrvn,' it's where I introduce young people to illustrations, posters, postcards, and digital artworks.

2. What brought you to art?

Havu: Speaking about the starting point, I think it’s my parents, just like many other parents, who were involved. They let me join the art club when I was only 4 years old. During that time, my mother took me to the art club because she loved drawing, but she hadn’t gotten the chance to pursue her passion for art. That’s why I think she put some hope on me and followed me to the art club at the Hanoi Young Pioneer Center. When I was in 2nd grade, I had a close friend, and that friend was the one who inspired me to draw.

3. The optimism in HaVu’s works?

Havu: This one is also quite abstract. My teacher, when guiding me, once said, 'Who you are is how your things are.’ I think this saying holds a meaning that whatever you create or express will reflect who you really are, what you think, how your energy is.

For me, I consider myself a very optimistic person. Perhaps partly due to this, when I’m painting, I’m always in the same delightful and comfortable mood. This positivity significantly influences my choice of color palette. I also think my color palette is the thing that  best reflects who I am in my paintings. I also really love nature, especially sunny days. Actually saying this seems a bit childish, but I think those are the factors that help me create artworks that bring such positive energy and bright colors.

4. The development of artistic thinking in the young generation 

Havu: Young artists like me often have thoughts such as, 'Am I good enough to put myself out there and express my art to the world?' 'Will I be judged?' 'Will people who view my work consider me inadequate?' I believe this is the most significant pressure and challenge for young artists. Maybe this is what we all have to overcome. We have to conquer that fear, and have more faith in ourselves.  

Of course, it’s not like that we have to disregard other people’s opinions because those opinions carry certain values for artists. However, we shouldn't allow those opinions to hinder our career paths; instead, we should use them as leverage to improve ourselves and boost our self-confidence.

5. Why HaVu agreed to collaborate with Chus?

Havu: I think it was destiny because I cooperated with CHUS from the very first days I found havufrvn which is my illustration and design brand.

Chus's team contacted me and introduced CHUS as an e-commerce platform. It doesn't sell everything, but rather focuses on products made exclusively in Vietnam - products infused with the culture and spirit of Vietnam. This resonates with me because my own products feature numerous Vietnamese elements. I also hope that such products, which showcase an appreciation for Vietnam, can be introduced to a wider audience.