Meet YIEN TRUONG | Concrete Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with YIEN TRUONG and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi YIEN, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea of having my own business is actually still daunting and foreign to me – I never thought that I would have my own business. Even now, it’s more about the craft than it is about the money. I was always a maker. From cooking to sewing, I loved being able to think of something and produce it with my own hands. About 8 years ago, I was watching a contractor working in my backyard creating a walkway with concrete. I was fascinated with how concrete can take any form so easily. Ever since then, I had always wanted to buy a bag of concrete at my local hardware store, but it never felt like I had the chance. Fast forward to the start of the pandemic with everything locked down, I had to find something to keep my mind both occupied and stimulated. I was going through a major life change with a separation and new living conditions, so I needed something to keep myself from losing it, for lack of better terms. So I finally thought here’s my chance to finally buy that bag of concrete. One bag of concrete, some yogurt containers and a whole lot of mess later – I was amazed at how much fun I was having. Every night after my day job, I was hooked on making planters and any shape I could come up with. Everything I could and have learned about concrete, from basic properties, chemistry and sealants, was all on the internet. I enjoyed being able to do my own research and put things to the test. So for me it was never about starting a business, but about finally having a creative outlet and a space to call my own.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The fun part about working with concrete is that every piece is unique and beautiful in it’s own way, but I wanted to stand out from many other concrete artists. I knew what I wanted to make but it took 7 months of playing with concrete everyday well into the late nights. I am obsessed with texture, colours and creating a unique look that was my own – a look that was imperfectly perfect with a play of colours. None of the pieces I create are the same, so I am always excited to see what I take out of the mold. I would say that the uniqueness of what I create is what I am most proud of. Molds and pigments can be very costly and constantly trying to stay current as a business is to be the most challenging part of running a business. My common obsession for plants within the plant community is what keeps my drive when I hit a creative block. Sometimes, my plant friends would tell me what colours and designs that they would like to see. There is a lot of effort to keep my social media current and up to date but the outcome pays off. This has brought me many loyal customers and I have made many friends through the common love for plants.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
For me, it’s all about the food. If you don’t like food as much as I do, we can’t be friends. The day will start with dim sum because this is a comfort food for me and Toronto has the best dim sum places in North America. Dinners must include a couple of my favourite sushi restaurants. Sushi doesn’t have to be expensive but knowing where to go is key. Fresh sashimi and aburi style sushi, which is when your sushi is torched, are a couple of my favourites. Another must have is great pizza. Like really great pizza. I don’t want to start a war with my pan pizza friends but thin crust is my favourite. Where I live, we’re only an hour away from cottage country. When I can escape for the weekend, this is where I like to spend my time. That’s where you can breathe in the fresh clean air, enjoy nature walks, fishing, and great company. If you don’t believe me, just ask Cindy Crawford, Halle Berry and Justin Bieber to name a few. They all have cottage properties in Ontario.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Well my first idea with concrete was actually not plant pots, but a concrete fountain. But knowing that I had to start small in order to learn how concrete works, I decided to try and make a mini planter with old yogurt and take-out containers. My cousin Stephanie decided to give me a rare succulent (a variegated bear paw) to put in the mini planter and that’s where things really got out of hand. I seriously became obsessed with getting new plants and putting them in concrete planters. When basically everything except nurseries were closed, my cousin and I would make trips to every nursery we could google map. With more plants collected, more planters had to be made, and with more planters came more mess and me taking over numerous rooms in the home I shared with my family. I took over the garage, the backyard patio, the living room and the dining room. My family tolerated my concrete invasion and truly encouraged my craft. I could not have done this without my family support.

Website: www.sunsetcement.com

Instagram: @sunsetcement

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunsetcement

Image Credits
Wyant Nguyen