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Work of Art: The Next Great Artist - Exclusive Interview with Trong Nguyen

Posted on 06/18/2010 by Gina in Work Of Art and Cast Interviews

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Trong Nguyen from Work of Art: The Next Great Artist

 

by Gina Scarpa and Mike Bandy

 

On the second episode of Work of Art: The Next Great Artist, Trong, the artist from Brooklyn, NY whose projects have been reviewed in many New York based publications, was eliminated. Trong's work has been highly revered in the past, but the judges felt that his latest piece "What Would Tom Friedman Do?" was too literal for the competition. We caught up with Trong in an exclusive interview to talk about his experiences on the show, how he felt about being eliminated, and what his future plans are.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What motivated you to try out for Work of Art and how important do you feel it is for artists to be able to showcase their work on such a big platform, like a Bravo reality show?

A. Trong: Well for me, the thing that I really had to deliberate before coming on the show was how it was going to affect my career as an artist. I had to convince myself that it wasn't going to affect me negatively. I didn't want that to be hindered in any way. I think it's great for artists in a sense that a larger audience and market come to look at art in a way that they normally wouldn't. After being on the show, there are two realities from what I know: the reality that you see on television and how the art world is portrayed and then how it actually is.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How well did you get along with the other artists in the house?
A. Trong: For the most part, I got along great with everyone. I had some amazing roommates. I think if I had even one different person in that apartment, I think I would've gone a little mad.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: How did you feel when Miles made the comment that your piece was "distractingly boring"? Did you feel that was warranted?
A. Trong: When he first said it, which came after I got reamed by the judges, I thought, "How strange that an artist would say that to another artist." I thought the guy was an actor. It was so strange and unusual. I have never seen that anywhere in school, in critiques, as a visiting artist or lecturer. In the end, I wasn't mad at all. I took more offense with what the judges had to say because they're very established people but their comments were very one sided. For five people to have one side was very strange to me. In Miles' defense, he's a young artist with a lot to learn.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Is Tom Friedman an influence on your artwork, and if so, why?
A. Trong: I like his work but for this particular challenge, I thought how appropriate it was because we were taken to the Salvation Army to look at this junk and that's what he would do. It was important to me and that's why I used him.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you feel that the judges were fair in making their decision to eliminate you, or did you feel someone else deserved it?
A. Trong: I thought that when you're making the work on the show, you're in the studio collectively and looking around at everything being made. On this second challenge, there were works that I thought were much weaker. You gauge what's happening around you. I didn't feel like it was my best work but I thought it was good enough to get me to the next round.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Who do you think will win Work of Art? Whose work do you really like?
A. Trong: I certainly like Judith. I respect her work a lot. I think a lot of the artists on the show are young and just finished school. In that stage of a career, I think it's rare when an artist that young has something to say. It's a lifetime thing. It's not like any other profession in any other way. I'm rooting for Judith and my roommates.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: What experience do you feel you've gained from being on the show?
A. Trong: I think I learned more about the world of television and reality tv itself more than the art world. As far as the art world goes, I'm doing what I've always done so that hasn't changed. There are different dialogues being opened up on blogs, from all walks of life, though. Today, in New York, I had lunch outside and people said hi to me and recognized me. It's opened up a dialogue with so many people.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Do you have any upcoming gallery shows we can check out? What else is in the works for you?
A. Trong: I'm in a show right now that's up all summer on Governor's Island by No Longer Empty. Coming up, next month, I have a little solo show in Berlin, Germany.

 

Q. Gina, RealityWanted: Would you ever do another reality show?
A. Trong: No, I mean it's an experience. When people ask me, I say I had a great time but I would not do it again, knowing what I know now.

 

 

Work of Art: The Next Great Artist airs Wednesdays at 10/9c

 

(Image courtesy of Bravo)

 


Follow Gina at twitter.com/ginascarpa

 

For more Work of Art links, visit SirLinksALot.net

 


  


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