Drawing a way out of isolation

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Drawing a way out of isolation

What does it take to turn quiet observation into powerful change? For RMIT Vietnam Vice-Chancellor’s Scholar Doan Hung Anh, it began with a simple act of observing and listening to the silent world of his cousin.

The paper cranes lay scattered across the floor, once being the symbols of a little boy’s fragile hope. Diagnosed with autism, he had folded them with quiet concentration. Each crease was a testament to his patience. But their delicate wings, once crisp and upright, now sagged like wilted petals, mirroring his spirit after another day of isolation. His world felt like a solitude cage.

Growing up with his cousin, Hung Anh saw what many others could not.

“He was not a diagnosis. He was a quiet genius,” he said.

“While others viewed autism as a wall, I saw it as a different language.”

That insight became the foundation of a mission – to help the world understand children like his cousin, who are artists with stories worth hearing.

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The Artism project invites users to co-create with autistic children, turning half-finished drawings into vibrant collaborations filled with joy, imagination, and mutual expression.

This mission took shape in Artism, an interactive website Hung Anh created where autistic children upload half-finished drawings. Visitors are invited to “swipe right” to match with one and complete the other half.

“Co-creating became a form of dialogue,” he explained. “Users filled in skies with constellations, turned stick figures into superheroes and added gardens blooming with shared imagination. It was no longer about sympathy. It was about joy, recognition, and mutual expression.”

Over 200 collaborative artworks were created and shared across social platforms, reaching more than 10,000 viewers. But for Hung Anh, the emotional shift was the true success.

“Children who used to be misunderstood were now co-creators in art,” he reflected. “The two seemingly disconnected worlds began to overlap through colours, imaginations, and stories.”

His realisation of communication as a bridge resulted from this experience.

“Storytelling could transform perceptions and the entire relationships,” he shared. “Communication became more than a tool for advocacy. It became a canvas for connection.”

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Hung Anh blends empathy with innovation, a creative force powered by academic brilliance.

Hung Anh’s ability to transform empathy into innovation is complemented by his academic brilliance. In Vietnam’s Literature Competition, he earned the Third Prize nationally in grade 11 and ranked First at the city level in both grade 11 and grade 12.

“Rarely have I encountered a student whose talents are as multi-dimensional and whose character is as inspiring,” wrote Professor Tran Nho Thin from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University - Hanoi.

He noted that Hung Anh’s intellectual curiosity stands out. Hung Anh approached literature as a lens to explore the world’s complexities, often posing incisive questions that sparked thoughtful discussions and challenged both his peers and teachers. His drive to engage with diverse perspectives and seek deeper understanding reflected the mark of a true scholar.

Beyond academics, Hung Anh is a natural leader. As the president of Ams Wide Web, the media club at Hanoi – Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, he faced an unexpected crisis when the club’s fanpage with over 40,000 followers was hacked.

“He almost burst into tears yet stayed calm to address the problem,” the Vice-Principal of Amsterdam High School for the Gifted Ms Duong Tu Anh said. “Hung Anh suggested launching a spearheading promotional video for our school. His efforts paid off. The video was a remarkable communication success and helped revitalise the club.”

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Doan Hung Anh is one of the six RMIT Vietnam Vice-Chancellor’s Scholars in 2025.

His leadership style blends innovation with compassion. When his team struggled with burnout, Hung Anh designed an AI-powered timetable system to optimise their schedules.

“Within just one week, he presented a fully functional solution,” Ms Tu Anh noted.

Hung Anh’s vision for the future is equally bold. At RMIT, he plans to pursue the Bachelor of Professional Communication program.

“I want to enhance the University’s image by establishing a social-impact media lab to experiment and address social problems with the profound power of mass media,” he shared.

As his cousin found his voice through art, Hung Anh is helping others do the same. His story is one of transformation, of turning quiet empathy into lasting impact. As Professor Thin wrote in his letter of recommendation, “Hung Anh will excel not only as a scholar but as a leader who will bring fresh perspectives and enduring value to [RMIT’s] academic community.”

Story: Ha Hoang

Campus and community

28 October 2025

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