Circle Paintings

The Completed Circle Painting from Vietnam.

To further the creative collaboration within the SEALNet projects, the teams will each complete a circle painting this year. With the help of Hung and Hiep Nguyen, each SEALNet team will work together to bring create these massive canvasses which in their own way symbolize the unity and vision which SEALNet seeks to create in Southeast Asia.

About Circle Paintings

Circle painting is a collaborative art making process that aims to promots social interaction and creative expression. The concept was originally conceived and created by artist/teacher Hiep Nguyen eight years ago when he realized that making art should not be the privilege of the few but it is the birthright for all people. The first circle painting was created when he invited neighborhood children and their family members to paint in his studio. Since then, Hiep has led many circle painting projects for different organizations, schools, and communities around the world. For more about Circle Paintings, please click here.

Circle Paintings and SEALNet

So far, the teams in Cambodia, the Philippines, and Vietnam have completed their circle paintings. As each of the projects brought together students from around ASEAN and the world, each of the paintings is a reflection of the unique individuals involved in SEALNet and the nations that they represent. The SEALNet members as well as the local students involved in SEALNet worked together to complete the circle paintings. The combination of college students from ASEAN, the United States, and elsewhere as well as local youth to paint demonstrates that not only can we connect through ideas, service, and leadership but that we can use art to understand as well. The paintings from the first three projects will be displayed at a conference in Singapore on 7 August.