"Weaving" dreams with needle and thread

In the era of rapidly developing digital technology, the traditional hand embroidery profession, which seemed to have been forgotten, has become a path of self-affirmation for the young man Nguyen Nhat Khiem (born 2000, residing in Ea Tam ward, Buon Ma Thuot city).

For Khiem, embroidery is not only an art, but also a language to tell a story about perseverance, passion, and the ability to overcome personal limits.

Before falling in love with the art of embroidery, Nguyen Nhat Khiem struggled in many ways to make a living. Shipper, tattoo artist, office worker... he had gone through all kinds of jobs, enough to feel the sense of loss when he could not find himself in his work. Then, in the midst of that uncertainty, Khiem decided to stop, listen to himself and step towards art - where his soul could fly freely.

Nguyen Nhat Khiem with his passion for creating artistic hand embroidery paintings.

He started learning crochet, painting… and then accidentally became fascinated by traditional hand embroidery. The more he learned and discovered , the more Khiem loved this meticulous work down to every detail. And so the journey of “weaving dreams with needle and thread” began.

No one said embroidery was easy, especially for a young man. The first needles were days of persistent practice with clumsy hands, swollen fingers, and blood oozing from needle pricks. Shoulders ached, eyes tired, and even ridicule: “What kind of a man embroiders?”, “Be careful not to turn into a sissy!”... But instead of giving up, Khiem quietly continued.

Portrait of President Ho Chi Minh by Nguyen Nhat Khiem.

“I often spend time every day watching videos online to learn the techniques of artisans, and I try to embroider each stitch with all my patience and curiosity,” Khiem confided. It is his love of art and the support from his family that gives him the strength to stand firm against all prejudices.

Sometimes I accept to refuse new orders to spend time investing in works with artistic depth."  

Nguyen Nhat Khiem

In March 2022, Khiem started embroidering on felt. This is a durable fabric with a closed surface and less thread deviation, helping to show details better. Not only that, he also boldly experimented with embroidering on dry leaves and leaf bones. Leaves are very easy to tear, cannot be stretched on the frame, each embroidery stitch must be slow, meticulous and precise. But on those seemingly discarded leaves, the works gradually come to life like a miracle.

Not limiting himself to one style, Khiem also tries his hand at many genres: portraits, landscapes, cartoon characters... Each painting is a separate world, where light, color, and composition are all carefully calculated. He uses 2-7 layers of thread to create depth and special visual effects - something that few people can persistently do.

After more than 3 years in the profession, Nguyen Nhat Khiem has completed over 60 hand-embroidered works. Some paintings took more than 250 hours to complete. One of the works that makes Khiem proud and is commented by many people as "as vivid as a 3D painting" is the portrait of President Ho Chi Minh, completed on the occasion of his birthday in 2023. Or the picture of baby Setsuko in the Japanese animated film "Grave of the Fireflies", which he depicted with emotional needlework, fully expressing sadness, innocence and touching beauty. In particular, the lion embroidered on a Bodhi leaf bone, completed in 10 days with more than 100 hours of work, has created a strong effect on social networks, thanks to its rare charisma and creative expression...

Leaf embroidery by Nguyen Nhat Khiem.

Not only passionate about embroidery, Khiem also knows how to use social networks as an “online exhibition” to connect, share and introduce works of art. Thanks to his meticulousness and unique style, he attracts a large number of followers and customers from home and abroad. Many people are willing to pay high prices to own unique paintings bearing his personal mark.

“I want people to remember my products for their meticulousness, care, and dedication, and each work is a story, each embroidery has its own soul, not just hastily made items. Therefore, sometimes I accept to refuse new orders to spend time investing in works with artistic depth,” he shared.

Thanks to art, Nguyen Nhat Khiem has found a new rhythm of life, where each needle and thread is a lesson in patience, concentration and the ability to overcome one's own limits. For him, embroidery is not only a profession that helps him earn a stable income but also opens up new relationships and valuable experiences. He always wants to spread the embroidery profession to more young people, creating a community of sharing and development.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/xa-hoi/202506/det-uoc-mo-bang-kim-chi-b6303d0/