“It’s quite comforting creating a world that is small enough to hug and to hold. There’s something really quite romantic about it.”
Known for her life-like and functional miniature models, Sydney-based artist Mylyn Nguyen, was always attracted to creating miniatures.
It all started in the 1980s, when two-year-old Mylyn discovered discarded matchboxes through her uncle and was captivated by the idea of a small box where you can place things inside.
Mylyn used a matchbox to create a little paper doll that slept under a blanket. As a toddler who did not have many toys, this was a prideful and empowering moment of creating her very own toy in a world she made for herself.
Unbeknownst to Mylyn at the time, the idea of creating things inside matchboxes would be pivotal to her craft many years later.
Mylyn carried her love of miniature-making throughout her childhood, with her next project being a school assignment at the age of five – to make a terrarium out of a milk carton. She loved the project so much that every single Father’s Day, she would repeatedly make a terrarium out of a milk carton for her dad.
Through the years, Mylyn dabbled in other art forms, while continuing to add miniature-making elements to her work. She studied fine arts at Sydney College of the Arts as well as glass blowing, along with brief stints in plasticine making and stop-motion films. Despite this, Mylyn always found a way to integrate miniature models into these mediums using such elements like paper to her art.
It wasn’t until 2019 at her solo show, ‘Sometimes I’m too boring for my imaginary friends’, Brenda May, Gallery Director from May Space Gallery, planted the idea to start making miniatures as stand-alone pieces, rather than simply being accompanying features of larger pieces of art.
Mylyn began creating miniatures as artworks on their own starting with none other than matchboxes, a nostalgic ode to her two-year-old self. She soon found herself making heritage buildings inspired by actual buildings from the streets of Sydney.
“Old buildings are great – there’s a lot of great detail on it, a lot of weathering, a lot of chipped paint. I love buildings that show their age and show their layers. I treat the buildings as if they have their own personality and they breathe their own story.”
While juggling art and exhibiting her work at group and solo shows, Mylyn also dedicated her time to a career in retail management spanning over 17 years.
Mylyn credits her full-time role in management and customer service at an arts and crafts retailer as influential to her growth, adding that the “black-and-whiteness” of corporate work combined with the chaotic moments in her artwork ultimately provides her with a balance she enjoys. She could be exhibiting at major galleries one day and assisting a five-year-old on a volcano project the next, with either end of the spectrum similarly providing Mylyn with a creative outlet.
In December 2021 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mylyn bravely decided to take the leap and delve into her artwork full-time, ultimately curious about what would inspire her and what she could create.
"After COVID, I decided... I'm going to shift gears and try giving 100% of my time to the artwork thing. I was curious to see what I could make with all my time instead of 10% of my time."
Mylyn’s approach to her art is based on one element she is captivated by, building a sketch-like framework and working her way as she goes with little measurements along the way. To Mylyn, the minutiae details of everyday life would be enough to inspire her to ultimately create an entire project. It could be as simple as stained glass or a type of brick work.
"There was one building I made because the green tiles were excellent... It was just beautiful and because I wanted to make that tile, I had to make the whole building."
Secrecy and storytelling are also key traits to Mylyn’s miniature models, giving the pieces an opportunity to be brought to life. This could mean a functional latch on a portaloo toilet or a secret message saying “hi” on a wall – a feature on an acquired piece a client is yet to discover.
“I like making things that people don’t see. It’s fun for me knowing that these details exist and fun for the viewer to think there may be something inside”.
If there’s one thing Mylyn credits for her miniature-making ability, its making mistakes, which she credits as giving her an opportunity to review her processes and how she can improve to do things “faster, better and neater”.
One thing that has carried through from Mylyn’s career in retail through to her artwork is her love of connecting and helping people. This was an element Mylyn missed in her previous role and the use of social media was pivotal in filling that need for connection.
A quick glance on her Instagram account @mylyn_eat_zombie and you will find countless reels that showcase how to make miniature items from tables and chairs, to warehouses and old buildings – and people are loving it.
"That's why I got into the social media side of things - I liked showing the process instead of just the finished product. The work is not hard. It's tedious but it's not hard. With a little bit of time, you can actually create something."
Currently Mylyn is working on a few buildings based off the iconic King Street, in the Inner West suburb of Newtown in Sydney. She has also started to create elements of the city of Springfield based off iconic cartoon series, The Simpsons, starting with none other than the Kwik-E-Mart. Using a multitude of video and photograph references, Mylyn has made the shelving, the counter, the hotdog stands, the hidden stairway, down to the cash register that opens with cash inside. Her next aim is to one day build an entire functional theme park and create cities based off Japanese anime.
Creating miniatures is inherently second-nature to Mylyn.
“Creating art is something I don’t even think about...Creating something is like cooking. I don’t think I’m going to create a masterpiece. I’m just going to put a piece of toast in the toaster.”
With the rising popularity of DIY crafting kits and Paint by Numbers post-pandemic, tapping into our creative selves has never been more popular and Mylyn hopes to promote the idea that creativity is attainable and creating art is not as hard it appears to be.
“I do truly believe everyone is creative"
Mylyn Nguyen is represented by M. Contemporary. To learn more about Mylyn Nguyen and her miniature artwork, watch our episode here or follow Mylyn on Instagram @mylyn_eat_zombie.
