Breathing life into the immortal fish model.

Some fish models created using airbrush art by Nguyen Hoang Hiep - Photo: Provided by the artist.

Hiep has been fascinated with airbrush art for over a decade and has started trying his hand at it on various materials such as painting on walls, helmets, motorcycles, etc. But as someone born in a coastal region, whose childhood was filled with fishing trips, Hiep says he was immediately drawn to and thought of fish when choosing this art form.

As a child of the sea, I deeply appreciate the vastness of the ocean and the countless fascinating creatures it contains. I want to share this passion so that many others can admire, experience, and grow to love nature even more.

NGUYEN HOANG HIEP

Immortal fish created using airbrushing techniques.

Initially, it was just for fun, but as his creations were gradually accepted by fellow anglers, Hiep focused on learning more and invested in equipment, materials, and machinery. In the blink of an eye, he spent over four years working, learning, and researching from abroad.

He proudly showed off his first model, a carp, which took him a week to create, but because it was made of wood, it weighed 8-9 kg. "It wasn't perfect then, but it motivated me to stick with it until now," Hiep recounted.

For him, each type of fish has its own level of difficulty and interest. Once he chooses a species to work on, he considers it a project that requires his full dedication to make it as realistic as possible. One by one, the fish models are created by Hiep's hands.

Some creatures, with their shimmering scales, clear eyes, and vibrant colors as if they had just been caught from the sea, leave many astonished and surprised when they learn that they are just models.

To create a fish model, Hiep's process is quite elaborate, from mold making, composite processing, grinding, applying a base coat, to airbrushing. Finally, a protective layer is applied to maintain the shine and durability, all done entirely by hand.

He skillfully uses oil paints and lacquers (industrial scented paints) combined with multi-layer application techniques to create depth and realism for each color shade, depending on the unique characteristics of each fish species, requiring a high level of meticulousness.

The model's surface is coated with a 2K gloss paint or epoxy (a type of liquid resin) to increase durability, resist moisture, and create a shimmering effect like real fish scales. The most difficult and technically demanding step is the airbrush painting. He has used valuable ornamental fish models worth hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong to create the molds.

"This isn't just about reproducing colors realistically, but about breathing life into the artwork, making the fish come alive and look real. Each piece takes me a few days or even a week to complete, depending on the size and level of detail of the model," Hiep said.

Earn hundreds of millions of dong per year.

A complete fish sculpture costs between 2 and 10 million VND, depending on size and complexity. This work allows him to fulfill his passion while also providing a stable income. Hiep's creations have been featured in many homestays, resorts, Japanese restaurants, and even in homes not only domestically but also abroad, catering to collectors.

Each month, he releases about a dozen models to the market. Many customers are willing to wait for days and accept paying a considerable amount to own these exquisite fish models, entirely handcrafted by Hiep's skillful hands and creative aesthetic sense.

Hiep said he wanted to convey a part of the ocean's beauty through each of his products so that viewers could feel it when they looked at his artwork. He wanted viewers to experience firsthand the richness and diversity of fish, which are enduring and immortal symbols of the boundless ocean.

At the same time, fish also represent rebirth, associated with the ever-flowing, ever-renewing water. Above all, this image evokes a yearning for freedom, transcending limitations, much like the human soul amidst the vast ocean. And what makes a work of art immortal is the soul that the artist breathes into it.

Therefore, even small details like the fins, the way the colors are blended to create reflections under light, and the fish's eyes must look realistic so that the details blend together, creating a vivid feeling and touching the viewer's heart.

"True beauty is not eroded by time," Hiep considers this the main message for his creative journey. For Hiep, each fish model not only possesses aesthetic value but is also proof of his passion, relentless effort, and desire to use art to preserve the endless beauty of the ocean.

Airbrushing is a form of artistic paint spraying invented by Americans around 1879 and is a popular decorating technique among modern young people.

This art form offers a novel, abstract feel, showcasing meticulous attention to detail that not all art forms possess. Airbrushing can be applied to all objects that can be decorated, such as walls, cars, helmets, phones, etc.

Preserving the essence of fish sauce through anchovy farming models.

Hoang Hiep hails from the coastal region of Phan Thiet (formerly Binh Thuan province ), so his love for anchovies and the fish sauce made from this seafood comes naturally to him.

He said that anchovies are not only the ingredient that makes the famous fish sauce, but also a symbol of the memories, culture, and persistent work ethic of the people in the coastal region.

He is currently working on a project to revive the anchovy farming model that grew up alongside his childhood and the Mui Ne area.

"I am currently working on this project and will continue to do so in the future, hoping that through this anchovy model, viewers both domestically and internationally will better understand the beauty, traditional values, and work ethic of the people in my coastal hometown," Hiep confided.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thoi-hon-cho-mo-hinh-ca-bat-tu-20260125105346677.htm