Mekong Writing Desk

My main principle is to create a balanced design, elegant and simple as possible. I oftten go along the rivers of Duc Hoa district, Long An province, next to Ho Chi Minh city by motorbike. These rivers are tributaries of the river system of the Mekong Delta, one of the main food sources for Vietnam. I like to watch the wooden boats running slowly, brushing the hyacinths aside. The front of the boats is decorated with an impressive fish image, as a ritual to avoid bad luck and bring luck. There are people who choose those wooden boats as their home, year-round floating on the water. My inspiration and idea came to mind when I thought of the similarities between the wooden boat and the writing desk. Aren't they the means to help people work, show how they make a living? They are all places where people show their intelligence, bravery and determination to overcome difficulties in life. When you sit down to work, you are like controlling a boat. Must focus and have an overview.

That is the refinement of design language. I especially want to portray the distinctive beauty of the river region through the simplest possible design.

I will commission a reputable furniture factory to make it real. Thereby, I will find the optimal way to produce and develop my artwork. There will be a small adjustment in the size but that makes the product more complete. Besides, I am designing a furniture collection go with "Mekong". Of course, they have the same theme.

I have a deep affection for the Mekong Delta, a land shaped by the river’s generosity and a unique cultural tapestry of Vietnamese, French, Cham, and Khmer influences—an atmosphere beautifully captured in Marguerite Duras's L’Amant. Among its many symbols, the wooden boats remain the most evocative; they are not only modes of transport but ‘floating homes’ that embody both structural integrity and the fluidity of life along the river. In designing the Mekong Writing Desk, I drew directly from the sturdy yet graceful curvature of these boats. My intention was to translate their balance—between strength and motion—into a piece of furniture where structural integrity and fluidity coexist. This became a meaningful metaphorical connection: just as a riverboat carries families through shifting currents, a desk carries our intellectual journeys, creative processes, and personal aspirations. The silhouette of the desk echoes the way a boat rests on the water—balanced, serene, and quietly dynamic. By distilling the form into clean, flowing lines, I aimed to evoke a sense of gentle motion, as if the desk were ‘gliding’ within the workspace, bringing the spirit of the Mekong into a contemporary context.

The Mekong River originates from the majestic Tibetan Plateau, carrying layers of fertile alluvium—the most generous gift nature offers to every land it touches. By the time it reaches the Delta, the river slows and its warm brown-yellow silt dissolves into daily life: in the tones of the "ao ba ba" (a traditional Southern Vietnamese garment), in the earth, and in the orchards it nourishes. Black provides a meaningful counterpoint to this palette. In Asian cosmology it represents the Water element, and in Southern Vietnam it recalls the small checkered patterns of the "khan ran" (a practical yet iconic scarf) worn by farmers along the riverbanks. This palette becomes a tactile tribute to the Mekong’s soul. Natural wood captures the warmth and earthiness of silt-laden waters and the hues of the ao ba ba. Leather evokes the resilience and weathered beauty of local craftsmanship, while fine metal details introduce a refined strength that subtly echoes the Water element’s depth and flow. Together, these materials form a dialogue between the river’s raw heritage and the precision of contemporary design—much like the khan ran, which balances everyday simplicity with a distinctive cultural pattern.

There are countless stories about the Mekong Delta—where the Nine Dragons meet before merging into the vast ocean. From legends of river spirits lurking in the deep waters to tales of farmers who reclaimed the land, and from humble wooden boats carrying livelihoods to the symbolic “boat eyes” painted to protect people from raging waves, the Delta holds an incredibly layered cultural identity. When designing the Mekong Writing Desk, my challenge was to translate this cultural richness into a minimalist language without losing its spirit. That meant consciously avoiding literal ornamentation and instead identifying the underlying emotional qualities that could be distilled into form. The rounded tabletop corners reference the softness of water flow; the apron subtly echoes the bow of a boat; and the structural stretchers provide strength while evoking the atmosphere of riverside shipyards. This reduction process was also essential for commercial viability. A minimalist form ensures timeless appeal, compatibility with modern interiors, efficient production, and scalability across different markets. In the end, the desk maintains a quiet cultural imprint—recognizable to those familiar with the Delta, yet universal enough for contemporary living.