Cuong Bui is Second Growth
The forest that comes back
after a major disturbance or clearing.
It’s a name chosen to describe my work and the life that shapes it; an intimate reflection of my roots.
Looking up
I studied Astrophysics and Physics at UC Berkeley. Those years were spent learning to measure the vast cosmos and understanding the fundamental laws that govern the physical world. I studied everything from the smallest particles to the largest galaxies, and I learned to think critically and creatively about complex problems.
The clearing
After finishing my degree, I spent some time working as a data scientist in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. It was a drastic change from academia and studying the sky but I learned a good deal about how the retail world runs. The work was good and so were the people but, it felt like something was missing.
I kept returning to the same questions around fulfillment, purpose, and what I wanted my days to add up to. The answers weren’t entirely on a screen. From the experience, I learned that I wanted to make things that had personal impact, not just metrics and corporate goals.
Starting again
So I started making things from wood. Bowls first, then rings, then small items and furniture. I built with poplar, cherry, walnut, maple, padauk and whatever else I could find. I learned to work with the material, to understand its properties and how to shape it. It also taught me patience, growth, and the nature of life.
Wood is slow and wise. It took decades to grow and it doesn’t bat an eye at the passage of time. It grows naturally in weird directions, has knots and cracks, and lets life and experience shape it. It holds the memory of its environment and the life it has lived within its inner layers all while expanding and continuously building upon its base. When destroyed, it gives way for new life to grow and flourish from its foundation. A poetic and elegant reminder of life and second growth. This is my second growth.
Cuong Bui is Second Growth.