Stroke claims life of noted art collector at just 44 years of age
HCM CITY — Noted art collector Le Thai Son died suddenly after a stroke on Thursday at his house in HCM City. He was 44 and had a history of heart disease.
Born in the northern province of Ninh Binh, he graduated from the Ha Noi University of Science and Technology before becoming a businessman. In the past 15 years, Son has gathered over 500 works by about 100 famed Vietnamese artists from 40 throughout the history of the nation, including a systematic collection of sketches on the war in the south. He also owned a valuable painting by Affandi (1907-90).
As a collector with a good knowledge of Vietnamese culture and the local art market, Son frequently expressed a desire to establish an art auction house to help keep valuable Vietnamese works from being sold to overseas buyers.
Son's remains were returned to his home province yesterday for burial.-VNS