Through the language of painting, artists Phung Thanh Ha from Vietnam and Benjamin Schiller (Beni) from Germany found profound harmony in both their personal lives and creative expression.

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Artists Phung Thanh Ha and Benjamin Schiller working side by side in their studio.

Their joint exhibition, titled The Journey, recently opened in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the first time the couple has presented both their individual artworks and collaborative pieces to the public. Alongside the exhibition, an art book featuring their works was also launched.

Beni comes from a family with a long tradition of brewing beer in Germany, while Phung Thanh Ha previously worked in the fashion industry. The two bonded over a shared passion for painting, resulting in the creation of hundreds of artworks.

Their mutual love for brushstrokes and color palettes has strengthened both their professional collaboration and personal connection. Together, they live, create, and build a world of shared artistic vision.

This commonality has allowed them not only to support each other in everyday life but also to complement one another in their creative pursuits.

Beyond being husband and wife, they are artistic soulmates, able to freely share and exchange creative ideas.

Though they often paint together, each retains a distinctive artistic voice. Ha’s work is steeped in the mystical essence of Eastern culture, while Beni’s paintings reflect the logical rigor of Western thought.

Their minds represent two contrasting worlds: one is intuitive and emotional, the other rational and structured.
Artwork by artist Beni.
Artwork by artist Phung Thanh Ha.
Their joint paintings represent a unique dialogue between contrasting styles.

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United in both marriage and creativity, the couple continues their artistic journey in Ho Chi Minh City.
Photos courtesy of the artists

Their collaborative works blend these divergent perspectives - East and West, feminine and masculine, inner voice and external imagery - into harmonious, expressive dialogues.

Through their union, they offer a quietly powerful truth: art is a bridge that transcends differences.

The couple doesn’t paint to tell stories. Rather, they paint when words fall short - where each brushstroke becomes a heartbeat, and every color reflects a thought.

"I don’t paint to create an image. I paint to touch what cannot be named, to be truly myself and fully alive in that moment," shared Phung Thanh Ha.

In their shared creations, their contrasts do not cancel each other out but instead blend into unique, vibrant dialogues.

Their combined vision not only results in richly layered artworks but also mirrors their shared journey of learning, adaptation, and harmony with the rhythm of life in Ho Chi Minh City - the city they now call home.

Tuan Chieu