Tina Ngo, a Tape Artist that leverages small pieces of tape to create dominating lines in her art. Being a professional artist really wasn’t an option growing up. Coming from first-generation immigrant parents from war, Vietnamese American, born and raised in Dallas, she grew up in a low-income family, near poverty lines with the feeling of pressure to succeed. There have always been and will always be cultural, societal, and educational expectations that needed to be met. Having multiple jobs, retail, and fast-food jobs, she ended up going to street races, to where she became fascinated by the art of suped up ‘rice rockets’ custom cars as a different way of expressing a creative outlet.
Being taught the values of structure, loyalty, hard work, and dedication; to where art and any creative expression were more of a hobby than any a passion to pursue. Her journey led her to following other people’s expectations over the years. As a quirky kid she got into SMU, with an identity crisis of not fitting in, ultimately became a corporate technologist – as she was told. She then grew up in the corporate chain of command, struggling with left brain and right brain identity. Learning the art of business, people, and setting boundaries, she eventually left the corporate world and is now on the journey of her dreams of becoming a Tape Artist, Designer, Technologist, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur and Advisor. With award winning shows in New York, Dallas, Miami, hopefully inspiring future creatives.
Typically, two questions are always asked: “What kind of tape?”, it’s tape that’s used on custom cars for detailing from the street racing days and “Why tape?”, taping defines creating her own lines helps draw boundaries and balances structure with chaotic expression. She says, why ‘color within the lines’ when you can create them? For her, each line represents the constant decisions, some permanent, some adjustable, that ultimately form the building blocks to a bigger picture. Looking closely, you can see the details; but the further you take a step back, the clarity the picture to take a more objective perspective.
She now says to those interested in taking the creative path, “Let’s create our own lines.”
What does “Going Against The Grain” mean to you? Breaking free from traditional constraints we have, whether it be socially, culturally or personally and finding new, creative solutions to problems. My current belief, as expressed through my tape art is ‘Create your own lines’ representing the fact that we grow up with the perception of following other people’s expectations. I believe that empowerment of the artists and creatives is key to illuminate and to educate the importance of creative expression. I’m trying to help to drive a culture of continuous creative learning, collaboration, leadership, network, and artist engagement with the local community.
Quote to Live By:“Create your own lines”
Sign: Gemini
Passionate About:Family, Friends and Art
Favorite Food: Pho
Can’t Live Without:Asian Food
