About ZEN

Zen Trinh is an interior designer and visual artist hailing from Texas, renowned for her creative approach and expertise, she transforms environments into harmonious and engaging settings that leave a lasting impression on all who experience them. Her studio, known as ZEN, centers around various aspects of interior design, including creative research, direction, project development, and installation design. With a keen eye for detail and a unique artistic vision, Zen Trinh’s works in interior design captivate and inspire, bringing forth spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and deeply meaningful.

Services

INTERIOR DESIGN

  • Space Planning
  • Schematic Design
  • House Staging
  • Material & Product Selection
  • 2D Floor plan & Elevation drawing on CAD
  • 3D Modeling & Realistic Rendering

VISUAL/CREATIVE DIRECTION

  • Concept Research & Concept Development
  • Creative/Art Direction
  • Concept/Narrative Development

Whispers of Architectural Reverie

Let’s Voyage Into The New American House

There are doors
that want to be free
from their hinges to
fly with perfect clouds.

There are windows
that want to be
released from their
frames to run with
the deer through
back country meadows.

There are walls
that want to prowl
with the mountains
through the early
morning dusk.

There are floors
that want to digest
their furniture into
flowers and trees.

There are roofs
that want to travel
gracefully with
the stars through
circles of darkness.

Richard Brautigan

 

The artwork titled “Whispers of Architectural Reverie” stands as a visual testament to the poignant verses of Richard Brautigan’s “Let’s Voyage Into The New American House.” This abstract masterpiece, measuring 45 inches by 70 inches, exudes an ethereal essence while being firmly grounded in its choice of materials. Crafted using recycled Styrofoam and cardboard, the artwork is not only a celebration of creative ingenuity but also a nod to the imperative of sustainable artistic expression.

At first glance, the canvas reveals a tranquil symphony of white and beige, the colors merging seamlessly to conjure a sense of unity between the architectural elements and their natural surroundings. The background, an expanse of cardboard, serves as the canvas upon which the architectural dreams are meticulously realized.

The focal point of the artwork is its intricate arrangement of blocks fashioned from different thicknesses of Styrofoam. These blocks, resembling cubes and rectangles, evoke a sense of architectural innovation and creative exploration. The use of recycled Styrofoam draws attention to the artist’s commitment to reducing waste and repurposing materials, adding depth to the artwork’s conceptual resonance.

The essence of the architectural forms is further amplified by the strategic play of light and shadow, achieved through the deft use of plaster and acrylic medium. The plaster adds texture, bringing a tactile quality to the piece, while the acrylic creates a dance of luminescence that breathes life into the composition.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the artwork lies in the delicate wave-like or wind-like textures that seem to ripple through the composition. These textures are a result of the artist’s ingenious technique of using a lighter to manipulate the Styrofoam. The resulting undulations in the surface give the impression of a subtle, perpetual movement—akin to architecture caught in a whispered conversation with the elements.

The artwork skillfully marries the ephemeral and the eternal. The architectural forms, while possessing a palpable presence, appear to exist in a state of flux, evoking the poem’s yearning for freedom and transcendence. The utilization of the cardboard backdrop as the canvas metaphorically signifies the foundation upon which human aspirations are built.

The echoes of Brautigan’s poem resound throughout the piece. The architectural blocks are imbued with a sense of longing, as if the cubes wish to soar alongside “perfect clouds,” and the horizontal rectangles yearn to run through “back country meadows” with the grace of the wind. The overall composition mirrors the poem’s thematic essence, encapsulating the profound interplay between architecture and the natural world.

“Whispers of Architectural Reverie” not only captures the viewer’s attention but also invites introspection. It serves as a poignant reminder of the symbiotic relationship between creativity, sustainability, and the essence of human aspirations. The artwork’s union of recycled materials, artistic prowess, and thematic depth stands as a testament to the power of art to inspire, provoke thought, and transcend the boundaries of convention.

  • Material

    Styrofoam, Cardboard (Recycle)

  • Medium

    Plaster, Acrylic

  • Size

    45-in x 70-in