PB MAKEUP: THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ARTIST

THROUGH THE EYES OF THE ARTIST

Vietnam-born Trí Trân is defying the odds, fast making a name for himself as a celebrated MUA in Australia after just five years of residency. Tri speaks to PB off the back of his highly successful live show, SENSORY. MAKEUP. THE ART.

From Vietnam to Australia

I’ve been working in the makeup industry for 15 years, and I come from Vietnam. Back in Vietnam, I owned a makeup school and had my own fashion brand - a bridal wear label. I also worked as a makeup artist in the entertainment industry, doing makeup for celebrities.

I’ve always had a strong desire to learn and grow each year. That’s why, around five or six years ago, I remember feeling the need to improve both my mindset and my skills. So, I made the decision to study abroad and advance my craft further. I came to Australia quite unexpectedly, on a holiday trip with a friend. Out of curiosity, I started researching whether there were any makeup schools in Australia. That’s when I met Ms Cameron Jane of the Cameron Jane Makeup Academy.

I HOPE PEOPLE SEE THE LIMITLESS CREATIVITY OF MAKEUP ARTISTS; THAT MAKEUP IS NOT JUST ABOUT FOUNDATION AND COLOUR, AND MAKEUP ARTISTS ARE NOT JUST PEOPLE WHO APPLY MAKEUP, BUT INDIVIDUALS ON A MISSION: TO CONNECT, TO CONSTANTLY EVOLVE, TO KEEP REFINING THEIR CRAFT, AND TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

We had a conversation, but at that time, I didn’t speak any English. My friend had to help translate and convey everything for me. After that meeting, I returned to Vietnam, organised my work and responsibilities, and began studying basic English so I could come back to Australia. By the end of 2019, I made the decision to move to Australia to study. But when I arrived, the COVID pandemic hit. Everything changed; it wasn’t at all what I had originally planned or expected.

It’s been over five years since I made the choice to remain in Australia. I’ve continued working as a makeup artist here, and I’ve stayed committed to the dream I’ve always had: to become an international makeup artist. To this day, I’m still on that journey, constantly striving, putting in the effort, and never stopping, to turn that dream into reality.

Something Beauty House

Two years ago, I started running my own business - Something Beauty House – specialising in wedding and special occasion makeup. I had already built a business of my own back in Vietnam so, following that same path, I wanted to continue growing a business here as well.

With Something Beauty House, I focus on diversity, working with clients from different ethnic backgrounds, and on the high-end, luxury market. I’ve always been drawn to niche markets - those that are more challenging to reach - because I love the feeling of conquering what’s difficult.

I’m also continuing learning and developing my skills as an international makeup artist, particularly in the areas of fashion and editorial.

The SENSORY Shows

The SENSORY Shows form a significant milestone, marking the first time a makeup artist has ever held a live makeup performance at The Sydney Opera House. From inside The Utzon Room, the makeup show was uniquely combined with music, lighting, and body movement, offering guests a fully immersive, ‘awaken the senses’ experience. The Utzon Room represents the birth of The Sydney Opera House - a space designed purely for art, from its architecture, acoustics and lighting to its view over Sydney Harbour - all combining to evoke a sense of reverence, depth, and inspiration.

The SENSORY Shows are created to connect artistic souls - those in makeup, beauty artistry and styling. My hope is that everyone who attends carries with them a sense of the purity in this craft; the limitless creativity; the burning passion; the bold dreams. And more importantly, the need to turn all of that into reality, with desire, drive, and with the purest heart. I hope that after the shows, people will feel and understand the kind of burning passion a person has when they truly love their craft; what it means to dedicate yourself to the work you love.

I hope people see the limitless creativity of makeup artists; that makeup is not just about foundation and colour, and makeup artists are not just people who apply makeup, but individuals on a mission: to connect, to constantly evolve, to keep refining their craft, and to keep moving forward.

The shows also express an artist’s challenges coming from overseas, and how they try to find their place in the Australian beauty industry. Because talent alone is not enough; what’s also needed is opportunity. I believe opportunities are all around us, but I don’t wait for them - I create them. The SENSORY Shows are something I created to make that opportunity real; to connect myself with the beauty industry here in Australia.

In Show One of SENSORY. MAKEUP. ART., I was inspired by brides. Australia’s multicultural landscape gives rise to a range of skin tones and personalities, and to me, a beautiful bride expresses her uniqueness. I blended this with fashion and editorial, shifting bridal makeup from traditional glam to something more avant-garde. For instance, with the Black bride, I used fresh flowers as accessories, creating a doll-like look with Pat McGrath’s iconic skin texture. I also kept classic elements, like red lips, but with a fashion twist. Some looks, inspired by East Asian beauty or modern coolness, incorporated bold, colourful elements.

In Show Two, I drew inspiration from street artists. Their ‘sacred space’ is the streets, so I reimagined that in The Sydney Opera House through an editorial, fashion lens. The materials were raw and simple, reflecting street style.

Show Three was about drag queens, whose ‘sacred space’ is usually bars or clubs. I wanted to bring them into a fashion-forward, editorial setting, presenting them on a runway in an iconic location.

For Show Four, I worked with musical artists, like a pianist and singer, using unique elements like gemstone embellishments to create a cool, creative look.

In Show Five, I wanted to take the audience on an emotional journey through live makeup performance, something rarely seen on stage. But with my show, I wanted them to witness those golden, once-in-a-lifetime moments—the movement of brush strokes, of the bodies. For example, the dancers moved on stage, and the brush strokes moved with them.

Using only black and white, I expressed the balance between creativity and commerce (as rings true in the creative industry), and the internal struggle between good and bad. The brush strokes, from soft to raw, were designed to evoke contrast, just as both black and white must work together to create impact in makeup and life. They’re neutral; they sit in between, balancing hot or cold colours.

For white, I played with the brush and used brush techniques to form flower petals, creating quick but impactful effects that matched the outfit. Then for the second layout in that performance, I moved into black. The strokes were more free, raw, expressing internal conflict. I then added touches of white on top. It was clear that black and white are opposites, but they must go together to enhance one another. It’s the same in makeup. We need contrast to create impact. I used colour contrast to create visual effects on stage. And to me, that makeup moment was the perfect finale of the entire show.

The SENSORY Shows were never meant to be ordinary. I wanted iconic places, unique artists, and a performance that felt different—this is why I chose The Sydney Opera House as the first venue.