Christine Nguyen

May 2022

Los Angeles, California

The Music Center's Plaza Augmented Project

In collaboration with yU + co

Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from April 29-May 22, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m., you can immerse yourself in The Music Center's Plaza Augmented, which applies artificial intelligence to an artist's visual style to create a one-of-a-kind artistic experience.

Scan the QR code on Jerry Moss Plaza and experience The Music Center's Plaza Augmented and be sure to take home a digital memento.

*public engagement still runs daily at various times

About the Artist

Christine Nguyen is a multimedia artist who uses a mixture of photography, drawing, and painting to create whimsical bright worlds inspired by her interest in science, nature, and mythology.

For The Music Center’s Plaza Augmented project, Nguyen added machine learning technology to her artistic toolkit, bringing a new level of engagement to her work. With support from yU+co, an innovation design studio specializing in dynamic digital content, Nguyen transformed a select body of her photo-based paintings and spray paint paintings into moving and interactive experiences for Music Center visitors.

Each live-feed interactive filter was created based on one or a combination of Nguyen’s works and produces new colorful ways of experiencing the environment on Jerry Moss Plaza. Whether it is a peaceful moment alone meditating as you are engulfed by marine visuals, or a surprising interaction that leads to a playful memory, Nguyen hopes these filters act as a catalyst for seeing the world with a new lens.

Art in Embassies exchange with Hanoi, Vietnam

2021

Conservation Focus

Christine Nguyen, who loaned a work to Ambassador Kritenbrink’s CMR exhibition in Hanoi, participated in a cross-cultural exchange with Hanoi-based Arts Build Communities (ABC) to mark the twenty-fifth anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam. The conservation-focused mural, located at the American Club, was jointly designed by Nguyen and four female Vietnamese artists led by Thu Huong of ABC. Covering an area of approximately 100 square meters, the mural seeks to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment by featuring vividly painted fauna and flora. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaboration was done virtually, and the final design was executed in-person by Vietnamese artists and members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative.

Nguyen worked with artists from ABC, who provided a sketch of creatures present in the natural environment of Vietnam. From that sketch, Nguyen used a process she developed herself to create a photo-based painting she then returned to ABC for their continued input. Nguyen’s unique process, combined with ABC’s creative vision, resulted in a final collaboration that celebrates and pays homage to the landscape and waterscape of Vietnam.

Nguyen’s work combines fantastical fictional worlds with endemic flora and fauna. She imagined a verdant setting filled with creatures soaring through the sky, across the land, and merging with the ocean. She wanted to create something magical, inspiring, and hopeful, all the while appreciating nature. Tropical plants she had seen both in photographs and while visiting Vietnam and its limestone islands in Hạ Long Bay feature prominently in the piece.

Nguyen describes the goal of her art as “to create something positive and uplifting while thinking about the peaceful future… how not only we must protect and be kind to nature and the ocean but also to one another. We are sharing this planet together, and even though we are separated by oceans we are still a part of the same place and constantly learning about nature and the world we live in together.”

Creative Partnership

“I was excited to be invited for this project, as I am still learning about my heritage and love connecting with people and artists in Vietnam. I am looking forward to visit[ing] Hanoi, and possibly [continuing] this project with workshops and meeting artists in the region,” says Nguyen of this virtual exchange. “It has been a great opportunity to talk and work with a strong and talented group of women in Vietnam.”

Cosmic Tiger (2022)

Mosaic

10’ x 14’ 1/2” vitreous glass material

Commissioned by the Department of General Services- Washington, D.C

Sound Transit

Federal Way, Washington

2021 - current

A created a small residency at the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way, while doing research for my garage facade design as part of the new light rail extension in Federal Way, WA through STart Sound Transit.

During my residency, I made cyanotypes using the bonsai at the museum by placing them in the trees. Due to the overcast days and intermittent sun peeping out of the clouds, it created these dreamy abstract shapes which mimic the sky and clouds in the area.

For the new link extension construction fence, I created the 5’ x 400’ long banner using the cyanotypes made.

April 2020

Mountain Totem (2020)

I created Mountain Totem as a photobased painting piece and then made a 3 min 30 second video of it changing colors from cool blues greens to warm oranges and yellow creating a meditative atmosphere.

This was projected in June on the Daniels & Fisher Tower that is 40’W x 140’T, located at 1601 Arapahoe St. on the 16th Street Mall in the Denver Theatre District.

Night Lights Denver is a permanent way for The Denver Theatre District to support innovative artists with an experimental platform while attracting people downtown to experience a free, unique experience. Our vision for this project is that Night Lights Denver truly becomes ‘the people’s projector,’ encouraging Denver to participate and contribute – including the international, national and locally-based artists we pay for commissioned artworks, schools and people walking through the district. Night Lights Denver partners include Downtown Denver Partnership, Orange Barrel Media and the Daniels & Fisher Tower.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

San Fernando, California

Commissioned by: Los Angeles County Arts Commission

For the new Sheila Kuehl Family Wellness Center, artist Christine Nguyen has designed a photo-based mural, a divider wall, a mobile sculpture, and coloring book inspired by the flora and fauna in San Fernando and the surrounding region. The artwork portrays a meditative and harmonious environment which is a celebration of spirit, comfort, healing and recovery. Together, these works create a playful and inspirational imaginary world that gives a sense of wonder for the patients, visitors and staff at the facility.

This new LEED Gold facility will establish a refreshing and playful environment for children’s mental health, including a sunlit atrium-style waiting area, counseling, conference, and group therapy rooms, community meeting space, and a tranquil interior courtyard. The facility will also accommodate the Department of Public Health Nurse Family Partnership program, which provides home visitation services to young women throughout the County.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Santee, California

Commissioned by: County of San Diego

For the new ARCC building, I have designed a photo-based mural, a mobile sculpture, and coloring book inspired by the flora and fauna of the County of San Diego and the San Diego River that bisects the city of Santee.The San Diego River in Santee includes more than 1,100 acres of natural riparian habitat. I’ve been learning about the riparian area which is the interface between land and river where specific plants habitat. The riparian zone is important in ecology due to its biodiversity and impact on the fauna and aquatic ecosystems such as the grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands in the area. I’m also inspired by landscape of the mountains and hills that form a natural barrier on the river’s northern and western sides.

 The building will be the nation’s first zero net energy archive facility and will maintain strict temperature and humidity conditions to preserve delicate archive materials properly. The single-story, 25,000-square-foot structure will be home to the East County Branch Office and Archives.

The ARCC building will unite a variety of County of San Diego functions and support the agency’s growth and expansion of services. The structure will house tax collector and recorder facilities in the north portion, with assessor and staff support services in the south. All office areas will enjoy natural light and provide views of the surrounding landscape. The county archives will be located within the building’s northeast corner and include highly insulated concrete walls that create a vault-like feel. 

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

West Hollywood, California

Commissioned by: Cedars Sinai Medical

These photo based pieces were made for the fencing surrounding the construction ongoing at 310 N. San Vicente Blvd., the future home of the Cedars-Sinai Saul & Joyce Brandman Breast Center -- A Project of the Women's Guild at Cedars-Sinai, which is under construction until mid-2019.

An article about the project here

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Los Angeles, California
Commissioned by: Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

The project was to create a design printed onto vinyl and then adhered to existing glass canopies. There are two canopies at the Silver Line, Manchester station.

In Metro’s ongoing effort to improve the transit environment and attract customers to our system, Metro completed installation of new artworks at Manchester Station as part of the Silver Line Revitalization Project. The artworks were carefully fitted and applied to the underside of the glass canopies above the seating areas.

The colorful artworks present dreamlike imagery of the local flora and fauna. A mountainous urban environment is portrayed amid oceanic life forms inspired by aquatic life found at surrounding marine preserves and tide pools. In reference to the changing colors of the ocean when viewed at different times of the day, one canopy design incorporates mostly blue hues to represent daytime while the other is delineated in orange, yellow, red and purple for sunset.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Long Beach, California
Commissioned by: Metro (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority)

In the tradition of celebrating transportation through colorful travel destination posters, Metro commissions a diverse range of Los Angeles artists to create original artworks. The purpose of the series is to increase ridership by encouraging the public to access the Metro system and enjoy traveling to the many neighborhoods within Los Angeles County. The posters are displayed on board Metro trains and buses.

An imaginary, underwater dreamscape playfully intertwines jellyfish, sea vegetation and caves with iconic Long Beach landmarks, including the Astronaut Islands, El Dorado Nature Center and The Walter Pyramid at California State University, Long Beach.

It shows the diversity of local ecologies while evoking the beauty of Long Beach in a playful, fantastical, underwater cosmic dreamscape.

Through the Eyes of the Artist poster series booklet

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Mailbu, California

Commissioned by: Los Angeles County Arts Commission

The design for the mural in the Malibu Library Children’s Room will provoke the library-goers to connect with the ecology and terrain of Malibu. I wanted to incorporate my interpretation of the ocean alluding to a playful fantastic underwater dreamscape.

The Malibu Library, a branch of the County of Los Angeles Public Library located at 23519 Civic Center Way, was established in 1970. Constructed in 1963, the library consisted of a 12,891 square foot building, and a 2,013 square foot bookmobile garage. Aside from relatively minor modifications to the interior layout, the library's physical characteristics had remained unchanged, despite constantly evolving library programmatic and service needs for the approximately 18,000 residents from the City of Malibu and surrounding unincorporated county areas that it served.

Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the revitalized Malibu Library pays homage to the area’s profuse history. Visitors can enjoy replicas of historic Malibu artifacts, including a lighthouse from the 1920s that has been transformed into a family restroom, an Adamson House tile rug, and a photographic exhibit featuring historical images of the area. Malibu’s equestrian culture is represented in the enlarged Community Room, while its diverse marine life is symbolized in the new Children’s Area on a flourishing 8’ by 14’ porcelain tile public art piece designed by artist Christine Nguyen.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Santa Clarita, California

Commissioned by: Los Angeles County Arts Commission

Water Sun Fire is a series of 25 cyanotype (sun print) artworks that features recognizable and abstracted objects that are familiar to firefighters. With the help of firefighters from Battalion 6 Headquarters at Fire Station 126 in Santa Clarita, artist Christine Nguyen collected an assortment of materials from both inside and outside the station, ranging from equipment to vegetation around the station. Firefighters also contributed a series of knots from their daily work, which included the Slip Knot, Overhand Knot, Overhand Follow Through (water knot), Bowline, Figure 8, Figure 8 Bend and Figure 8 Follow Through.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Century City, California
Curated by: James Elaine

This site specific piece was created to wrap around corner wall for the new Century City office building for 20th Century Fox Studios.

This project was a collaboration between the Hammer Museum Projects and 20th Century Fox Studios installing works by emerging LA-based artists.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Pasadena, California

Commissioned by: GGA Architects

The spray paint on aluminum panels and cyanotypes on ceramic tiles will provoke the viewers to connect with the ecology and terrain of Pasadena in juxtaposing the urban with nature. I wanted to incorporate how light reflects colors of the natural world in an urban environment and how it changes throughout the day.

GGA Architects is a studio located in Old Pasadena with an emphasis on educational, civic, and multi-family housing. In our work, public space, contextually informed design, and an effort to augment the culture of the region are united with innovative approaches to programmatic and technical issues. Additionally, the studio has sought to encourage a dialogue among art, architecture, building users, and the public by creating meaningful moments where each may continually inform the other.

The project site is located at 135 West Green Street. Completed in 1992, the building design incorporated a new semi-public side-alley, linking Green Street with the City’s historic public alley system. This alley is exposed to both the City’s pedestrian traffic and to the building’s occupants (through framed, windowed views). In a broader sense, this alley links Colorado Boulevard with new high-density residential neighborhoods south of Green. To further encourage its public use, and provide it a unique voice in Old Pasadena, the alley was designed with niches and armatures specifically meant for the installation and display of both temporal and permanent public art pieces.

The Art Alley, as it is known, has been populated with an eclectic mix of works from different artists including permanent pieces by John Outterbridge and Richard Godfrey; and temporal installations by George Herms and Blue McRight. The Art Alley program saw a hiatus with both building ownership changes and difficult economic times. We are now seeking to revive the program for the purposes of re-enlivening the character of the alley and of providing public exposure to developing artists. Though the building itself might remain static, the artwork is ever-evolving, providing possibilities to reinterpret and refine the dynamic connections among past, present and future.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Kwun Tong, Hong Kong

Commissioned by: L’hotel Elan & 10 Chancery Lane Gallery

Entangled Future Trees Drifting, was inspired by the history of Kwun Tong District. It was known for it’s industrial factories such as the textiles. The factories were built in the 1950s and since then have been demolished as commercial buildings have been constructed to replace them. The site specific piece reference the history of that era with images inspired by embroidery and the nature.

more about L’Hotel Elan art program

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Ontario, California

Scientific Technologies and the Natural World

Christine Nguyen and April Kawaoka are both natives of Los Angeles. Influenced by their surroundings, Christine and April's artistic approaches and processes are widely varied, from Christine's crystallized vegetation and cyanotypes to April's sandblasted acrylic sheets and metal components. Christine's work emphasizes the expansiveness of nature and imagination, while April's work primarily draws upon unnatural constructions and technologies. The parallel between their artwork lies in the hopefulness that nature's steady growth will prevail. This collaboration was an exciting opportunity to combine technical processes and aesthetics, while simultaneously evoking new perceptions and ideas of science, technology, and the vast world around us.

Collaboration with April Kawaoka