Long shadows trail a mother and child as they walk the streets of Hoi An.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 x 60 cm.
Price: $125 USD ($25 USD shipping)
Nguyen Tan HIEN
Nguyen Tan HIEN was a university student in the Central Highlands city of Buon Ma Thuot when he was struck by a bus. The accident left Hien with paralyzed legs and only partial use of his arms. Hien spent most of the next several years in bed in a completely dependent state like many, many other disabled people in Vietnam.
Finally, in 2006, Hien was admitted to the brand new spinal cord center attached to the Da Nang Rehabilitation-Sanatorium Hospital. After many months of arduous physical therapy and the gift of a used wheelchair, Hien achieved a level of relative functional independence. He was still without a home or meaningful work, however. So Hien began to develop his skills as an artist, beginning initially with pencil sketches and then progressing to water colors and, finally, to acrylic painting. Eventually, his work caught the attention of both visiting foreigners and the Vietnamese media. As Hien's paintings began to sell, Hien gained in confidence and voluntarily took on the task of counseling other, more recently disabled people.
In January of 2010, that growing confidence allowed Hien to marry his sweetheart, Ly. Hien now says, "Physical therapy and art restored hope and purpose to my life. My goal is to give encouragement to other disabled people."
Long shadows trail a mother and child as they walk the streets of Hoi An.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 x 60 cm.
This image of Hoi An seems to pulse with heat and energy.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 x 60 cm.
Price: $125 USD ($25 USD shipping)
A vibrant street scene in Old Hoi An.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 x 60 cm.
Price: $125 USD ($25 USD shipping)
Two tiny children peer at boats moored in the ancient town of Hoi An, Vietnam.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 45 cm x 35 cm.
Price: $90 USD ($25 USD shipping)
The morning sun melts like butter into the waters of the Hoai River in Hoi An, Vietnam.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 cm x 70 cm.
Price: $135 USD ($25 USD shipping)
Two bicycles leaning against a wall in the ancient town of Hoi An, Vietnam.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 cm x 70 cm.
Price: $135 USD ($25 USD shipping)
The shapes and colors in this vision of Hoi An seem to shift and shimmer.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 45 cm x 55 cm.
Price: $110 USD ($25 USD shipping)
Silhouettes of Vietnamese fishing boats emerging from the fog.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 60 cm x 80 cm.
Price: $135 USD ($25 USD shipping)
A peaceful street scene in old Hoi An town.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 cm x 60 cm.
This original acrylic painting is available for sale at SMILE HOUSE, a handicraft shop run by and for the benefit of the disabled community of Hoi An, Vietnam. SMILE HOUSE is located behind the Confucius Temple at 126 Trang Hung Dao Street in Hoi An.
Brightly enameled shutters adorn a Hoi An scene.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 cm x 60 cm.
This original acrylic painting is available for sale at SMILE HOUSE, a handicraft shop run by and for the benefit of the disabled community of Hoi An, Vietnam. SMILE HOUSE is located behind the Confucius Temple at 126 Trang Hung Dao Street in Hoi An.
A solitary bicycle leans against a sun-lit wall in old Hoi An town.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 50 cm x 60 cm.
This original acrylic painting is available for sale at SMILE HOUSE, a handicraft shop run by and for the benefit of the disabled community of Hoi An, Vietnam. SMILE HOUSE is located behind the Confucius Temple at 126 Trang Hung Dao Street in Hoi An.
A green sky, inspired by Van Gogh, enlivens a traditional Hoi An scene.
Artist: Nguyen Tan HIEN.
Medium: Original acrylic painting on canvas.
Size: 35 cm x 45 cm.
This original acrylic painting is available for sale at SMILE HOUSE, a handicraft shop run by and for the benefit of the disabled community of Hoi An, Vietnam. SMILE HOUSE is located behind the Confucius Temple at 126 Trang Hung Dao Street in Hoi An.