With my sculptures and drawings, I mainly find inspiration from nature and ancient art. I look for both consistency and phenomenon in nature, like the randomness of rock formation and the simplicity beauty in the way they relate to each other. I am especially interested in smooth transition and gentle curve I observe, as with wind rippling rice paddies like waves, elegant structures of animals, and the gradation of color and shape in fruit and trees. Being immersed in nature overwhelms me with its unspoken power.

Ancient art also gives me direction when I am gathering ideas for my work. I am most drawn to tribal art, for its simplicity and deep sacred spirituality. I admire the knowledge of nature materials these groups have, the freedom and imperfections that result in hand make objects.

I work in metal, wood, rock, rubber and others materials. When I travel, I like to explore my surroundings, and use whatever is available both in nature and urban settings.

I have a strong sense of intuition and spatial awareness, which help me use creative way to integrate the rule of nature into problematic aspects of industrial progress. Additionally, I like the idea of making the most out of nature resources like the tribal people who use every part of animal for different functions, both life-sustaining and ritualistic. This promotes a great respect for the environment.

Essentially, I like to show the contradictions between industrialization and nature, and attempt to create a balance between them. I try to observe many cultures, and integrate the beauty I find into a distilled form. Because art is a universal language, I feel it is important to use my work as a way to display the collective knowledge of people all over the world.

Spark Interview with Thai Bui
Copyright 2005 KQED San Francisco

“In this Spark video produced by KQED, visit with Vietnamese born Thai Bui as he creates works that reflect the pressures of working as an artist in a foreign culture. Bui makes haunting works of art that speak to a sense of displacement and longing that has characterized the artist's own turbulent life. Bui's extraordinary objects combine references to his experiences in both the United States and Vietnam, simultaneously communicating a witty humor and penetrating sense of loss.”