Known for his stunning architectural compositions, Lisbon based photographer Minh T has a seemingly endless catalogue of stunning images that are striking and graphic yet contain warmth and a humanistic focal point. We chatted with Minh to discover more about his practice and his favourite art print for Paper Collective.
PC:
Hi Minh. Thank you so much for chatting with Paper Collective today. To start, can you tell me a little bit about who you are, where you are from and based, and what a usual (or different) day in your studio looks like?
Minh:
Sure, I'd love to tell you a bit about me. I'm originally from Vietnam, which made me really appreciate different cultures and their stories. I used to live in Los Angeles, a place full of dreams and creativity that influenced my art and how I see things. A few years back, I moved to Lisbon, Portugal, looking for something new to inspire my photography. Now, I'm a freelance photographer in Lisbon. My days are never the same, which is great. When I'm not working for clients, I explore lesser-known spots in Lisbon, finding and photographing the hidden beauty in these places.
PC:
What inspires you?
Minh:
What truly inspires me are concepts and elements that transcend the immediate:
timelessness, simplicity, modernity, and, of course, architecture. These principles guide my work, my vision, and the stories I choose to tell through my photography. Architecture, in particular, plays a pivotal role. It's not just about the aesthetic appeal of buildings but their ability to convey a sense of place, to serve as a portal that transports my audience to a different location, a different narrative. My aim is to craft a backdrop that enriches the story I want to tell, inviting viewers to embark on a journey of escapism.
PC:
The first thing that comes to mind when looking at your work is your love of architecture. When and where did this fascination start? Is it linked with your environment growing up, or through your studies?
Minh:
I've always been into architecture and the world around me, way before I started studying it officially. I was drawn to the hidden beauty in everyday places and moments. This curiosity made me choose a career in architecture, which really changed how I see and understand buildings and spaces. My architecture studies taught me that it's not just about how buildings look. It's about capturing the small, meaningful moments that happen in and around them. Like how the morning light hits a building or how shadows move across a wall in the breeze. These details might seem minor, but they tell a lot about a place and its vibe.
PC:
Another key feature of your work is the presence of the human figure within a vast majority of your compositions. Why is this important to your work and what do you think it adds to these environments?
Minh:
Incorporating a human figure into the architectural landscapes I capture is a deliberate and integral part of my artistic expression. To me, buildings are not just static entities; they are characters in their own right, with stories to tell, histories to reveal, and personalities that reflect the culture and time they were built in. Similarly, the human figure adds another layer of narrative, breathing life into the scene and creating a dynamic interaction between person and place. This interaction transforms the composition, infusing it with a sense of storytelling and a cinematic quality that I deeply admire and strive to achieve in my work.
PC:
One other aspect that makes your work so graphic and eye-catching is your use of light and shadow. Do you have particular countries or areas you love to shoot in the most, and/or particular times of the day?
Minh:
Shadows and light are my greatest sources of inspiration. I love watching how shadows change throughout the day, creating a dynamic effect that turns ordinary scenes into something more, full of new shapes and textures. I'm not limited to one place when it comes to capturing light and shadows. I see beauty and possibilities in how light varies across different settings. The best times for catching the perfect light are early morning and evening when everything gets a soft, calming glow. These times add depth and emotion to my photos. But the strong light of midday is great too, for bold, sharp images with lots of contrast, really bringing out the details.
PC:
What is your favourite work as part of your collection with Paper Collective, and why?
Minh:
"Simplicity of the moment" is my favourite from the collection I made with Paper Collective. This affection stems from its embodiment of timelessness, a quality I deeply admire and strive to capture in my work. The piece is designed to transcend the constraints of time—it could belong as much in the past as it could in the future. This timelessness is achieved through the deliberate focus on a frozen moment, where bold shapes and colours come together to create a composition that is both simple and deeply meaningful.