Their weeklong journey to an Indonesian island led to a four-month stay in a strange land and then a new life in an even stranger place: the United States.

The drive that pushed Tran to paint with pastels on kitchen tables and floors as a teenager, took another form in adulthood when he began flexing his artistic muscle as an actor, model, poet and photographer, in addition to being an artist.

Now 35, Tran, who is also known as Apollo GT, recently launched the print edition of his popular 3-year-old online magazine Apollo Male Models (AMM).

“GT” is derived from Tran’s initials while he says “Apollo” is the translation of his Vietnamese name, Dai Duong Thai, which means Guardian of the Sun.

“I like Apollo GT,” he says in the introduction on his Web site at www.ApolloGT-Studio.com. “It sounds like a car.”

The magazine promotes the careers of budding male models and actors who hope to work in the fashion and athletic industry.

Tran, who is gay, says he wants to use the publication to give a voice to the models, perhaps something he felt deprived of during his own modeling days.

“They’re not just models,” he says, “they have ideas and feelings, and I want to know about them. I’m sure many people want to get to know them.”

The magazine does not include frontal nudity and foul language. Tran says it offers a platform for up-and-coming models to promote themselves and learn from others.

“I’m trying to promote the positive [aspects] of male modeling,” he says.

AMM is partly sponsored by the Fitness And Model Expo (FAME), an annual competition organized by the Toronto-based World Natural Sports Organization. The group’s 8th annual world championship, which is open to men and women, is scheduled to take place June 10-12 in Toronto.

Kathryn Lekas, director of event operations at FAME, says a publication like AMM has been long overdue.

“There aren’t too many magazines that cater to male models,” she says. “Apollo Male Models does. It provides a great avenue for male models in the industry to get exposure and get recognized.”

She described the annual FAME gathering as a mix of modeling and fitness aficionados, a prevalent theme seen in the pages of Tran’s magazine. She says she expects the magazine to be around for a long time, a conclusion she reached after meeting its founder.

“I was impressed with his initiative and the enthusiasm he has toward the male modeling industry,” Lekas says. “I think AMM is going to go far.”

Launching the magazine seemed like an ideal move for Tran, a former model who now works as a professional photographer.

He initially demonstrated an interest in photography while attending Falls Church High School, in Virginia. In 1994, he earned a bachelor’s degree from the Corcoran College of Art & Design, in Northwest, D.C.

His paintings often include elements of popular culture, including performers such as Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe. But they’re not the standard iconic pieces one usually sees.

Tran’s work also tends to depict a certain sadness, and one wonders whether some of this reflects some of his own pain.

“My paintings and photography help me express my feelings,” he says. “I hope you can see that through my work.”

In addition to his art and magazine, Tran recently launched his own set of gay-themed greeting cards at Lambda Rising bookstore in Dupont Circle. He also has spoken with officials there about carrying the magazine.

In the meantime, Tran says he wants to further explore the art of mixing computer-generated images with standard photography.

© 2006 - A Window Media LLC Publication