Argentine - French artist Mustapha Boutadjine presented a painting he had done of President Ho Chi Minh to the Vietnamese Embassy in France at a ceremony on October 11.

The event was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Nguyen Ngoc Son, Senator of Honour Hélène Luc and historian Alain Ruscio, along with delegates from the France–Vietnam Friendship Association and the Association of Vietnamese People in France.

Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Nguyen Ngoc Son said that the painting was a priceless and meaningful gift that showcased the affection of the French and Argentine peoples for President Ho Chi Minh.

The Argentine–French artist shared that he especially admired President Ho. Over the course of many months, he made two paintings with a paper collage technique drawing paper from books, newspapers and magazines.

The painting, which was presented to the Vietnamese Embassy in France, measures 140cm by 110cm. In addition, Boutadjine also made another painting with the paper collage technique, which measures 100cm by 80cm.

Boutadjine was born in Algiers in 1952. He lives and works in Paris. His portraits shine with the light of revolution and the people’s proud determination to be free, and include well-known heroes, martyrs, poets and musicians from around the world.

Earlier, the Vietnamese embassy in France received a memento of President Ho Chi Minh—a hat that the Vietnamese leader presented to the late French physics professor Pierre Biquard in 1969—during a ceremony in February 2016. 

The hat was sent to the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi for display, thus helping the Vietnamese people and international friends to gain a deeper understanding of President Ho Chi Minh’s warm sentiments toward French friends who passionately supported the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national independence, peace and reunification.

Nhan Dan