We caught up with the brilliant and insightful My Linh Mac a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

My Linh, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One of the most significant projects I’ve ever been a part of is the creation of a children’s book series called “Co Tich Viet”. This project became a beacon of balance and purpose in my life, especially at a time when the challenges of the pandemic were threatening to induce burnout. 

The spark for this project came from a place of longing – a homesickness that was amplified during the lockdown periods of the pandemic. As someone who has taught K–12 art classes, I saw this as an opportunity to bridge the gap between my heritage and my current reality. I yearned to reconnect with my Vietnamese roots and share the richness of our culture with my second and third-generation immigrant students, who had not been fully exposed to their ancestral heritage. 

So, “Co Tich Viet” was born – a series that currently consists of two published books, with a third one in the pipeline for a summer 2024 release. Each book, while set in a different historical era, carries the same objective – to impart moral lessons in an engaging, lighthearted, and educational manner. “The First King”(2021), takes inspiration from the popular Vietnamese folktale “Con Rong Chau Tien”. It tells a magical tale of heroes, deities, and romance, emphasizing the idea that great power comes with great responsibility and sacrifice. The narrative also shines a spotlight on a significant chapter of Vietnam’s history, including the miraculous birth of 100 children. “The New Year Gift” (2023), delves into the origin and symbolism of the watermelon during the Van Lang period. Stripping back on the mystical elements, this tale focuses on resilience, kindness, overcoming obstacles, and the importance of not worrying about societal opinions. It shows how today’s good deeds can sow the seeds of a fruitful future. The story also incorporates customs and symbolism associated with the Vietnamese Tet celebration, our most significant cultural holiday. 

What started as a hobby project to fill the void during a challenging time evolved over two years into a purposeful endeavor. It transformed into a profitable small business partnership, but most importantly, it served as a medium for me to connect with my roots and share my culture’s wealth with my students. This project holds a special place in my heart, embodying a perfect blend of personal passion and professional fulfillment. 

My Linh, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m an international award-winning visual artist and graphic designer from Vietnam. Aesthetically, I focus on creating depth and dimension, and unconventional storytelling by

incorporating traditional painting techniques and design elements to produce a unique visual language. My abstract works are represented by institutions worldwide including the Queen Victoria Museum and Gallery in Tasmania, Australia, the Angard Art Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri, the Brauer Museum in Valparaiso, the Czong Institute for Contemporary Art (CICA) Museum in Gimpo, South Korea, and the Museum of Outstanding Design (MOOD) in Como, Italy. Beyond my painting studio, I’m also passionate about graphics, helping others create/find their unique visual identity. Over the years, my solo branding and packaging design projects have received international recognition from prestigious establishments, including the Indigo Design Award in Georgia, DNA Design Paris in France, A Design Award in Italy, and C-IDEA Award in South Korea. 

I knew art and creativity were for me at a very young age as the ‘symptoms’ were obvious with my obsession with color contrast and over the years, I frequently got in trouble with the teacher for too much doodling and zoning out in class. (Sorry not sorry). For decades drawing and painting were just obsessive hobbies until I got my first job as a freshman in college which allowed me to discover my true calling. Back then, I was known as ‘that kid who can do art’ on campus and one day during lunch, a friend of mine who also happened to be the president of a student organization asked me to design a poster for their Halloween event. I agreed to do it for free and then accepted other similar requests. The words spread and in the following semester, I got an official employment offer from the Office of International Students Affairs as a poster designer. From there, I had the opportunity to engage with people from around the world and unexpectedly fell in love with graphic design and visual marketing. 

I often approach projects with the simple goal of giving unpopular perspectives a voice and sharing unique viewpoints on life with others without being bound by a particular medium. Earlier in my career, I was constantly told to stick with one profession and one artistic medium; fortunately, I chose to ignore the suggestions and go with my gut in pursuing my passion for both painting and design. There is nothing wrong with branching out and exploring new opportunities in different fields of work. Over the years, I’ve built my credibility as an inventive artist and visual designer by incorporating not only technical skills but also my knowledge from multiple creative fields of design, art, and technology. 

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Groundbreaking works are the most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative, however, they are not created by people who stay in their intellectual safe zone. Choosing an unconventional path is not easy, but it can be highly rewarding in the long run. For example, multi-disciplinary artists/designers are not only well-rounded individuals but also pioneer leaders in their respective communities. Imagine a world where brilliant artists like Leonardo da Vinci, would not allow their talents to be bound to a single industry. When it comes to creating unique styles, artists/designers’ diverse disciplinary backgrounds are as crucial as their cultural backgrounds, but they are sometimes ignored. When I take a moment to reflect, I’m grateful for

how far our creative community has come. Particularly in Eastern societies, not long ago, we didn’t get the same respect and appreciation as the legal and medical professions, but today we are an indispensable part of modern society because we ‘step up’ to engage and advance alongside other industries rather than being on our own. I hope my work my unique approach to projects and my risk-taker mindset can inspire others to be bold, dare to be different, and be more than what others may perceive you to be because life is not about finding yourself, it’s about creating yourself. 

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

I arrived in the U.S. over a decade ago as an undergraduate art student. As much as I enjoy learning, the disadvantages of being an F-1 visa holder are undeniable. With overcoming language and culture barriers, not being allowed to work off-campus, and competing with peers for on-campus jobs that only allow 20 hours a week, we were unable to support ourselves without financial help from our families. The pressure is intense when searching for employment and visa sponsorship, having to prove that you’re qualified as a foreign worker in the U.S. within a year after graduating, and meeting visa-related expenses. The most difficult part of the entire process is dealing with rejection from employers that, understandably, do not want to risk investing thousands of dollars in sponsoring an entry-level candidate who has no prior job experience beyond the school they recently graduated from. I’ve come a long way to be an O-1 visa holder. Fortunately, those struggles in the past helped me develop a “ready-to-go” mindset that allows me to learn from failure wisely, and be adaptable to different professional settings. As a designer, my immigration circumstances encouraged me to be a risk-taker and an explorer with many aesthetic styles, to value innovation, and to produce projects with meaningful stories and messages. As a person, my journey taught me not to take things for granted; the ‘affordable lost’ principle; be resilient, diligent, and sympathetic toward others. 

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mylinmac.com

Image Credits
My Linh Mac