Students visit the exhibition to contemplate artworks by great artists featuring Uncle Hồ. VNS Photo Minh Thu

HÀ NỘI – Artworks featuring President Hồ Chí Minh by prominent Vietnamese artists are on display at an exhibition in Hà Nội.

The exhibition 'Remembering Uncle Hồ' honours the life and career of the great leader to mark 50 years of implementing his testament (1969) and to celebrate the 74th National Day (September 2, 1945).

The exhibition consists of 50 artworks in different genres including paintings, graphics, sculptures and posters in a wide variety of media such as oil on canvas, lacquer, woodcuts, gouaches, watercolours and silk.

President Hồ reads Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, by Nguyễn Dương.

It’s a rare chance to contemplate the artworks in the collection of the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum. They were created by numerous graduates of the the Fine Arts College of Indochina including Lương Xuân Nhị, Trần Văn Cẩn and Tô Ngọc Vân; as well as renowned artists of the revolutionary period such as Nguyễn Dương, Lê Lam and Mai Văn Nam.

“President Hồ Chí Minh’s personality and morality have always been a shining example for all Vietnamese people and are an everlasting source of inspiration for many generations of painters, sculptors and graphic artists,” said Nguyễn Anh Minh, director of the museum.

“Through the exhibition, visitors can understand the compassionate love and care of Uncle Hồ to people from all walks of life, from brave soldiers at the front to hard-working farmers, ethnic minority people and children,” said Minh.

“These works also vividly reflect the heartfelt love and boundless respect of the artists for Uncle Hồ.

“We hope the exhibition will provide visitors a sense of profound feeling and appreciation of the greatness of Uncle Hồ as well as his ideology, morality and lifestyle,” Minh added.

Uncle Hồ with children, a plaster sculpture by Trần Tía. VNS Photo Minh Thu

Trần Khánh Chương, chairman of the Việt Nam Fine Arts Association, said he was moved when viewing the artworks.

“Some of them are my friends such as Nguyễn Dương, some are my teachers such as Lương Xuân Nhị,” he said.

“Looking at these paintings, I have the feeling of seeing them again. The artworks have been created during the last 50 years. I'm delighted that the precious artworks are currently preserved well at the museum.

“The exhibition is not for the celebration of anniversaries. It also helps people understand more about a period of national fine arts. The works also express the gratitude and love of the artists for the President and spread the greatness of the leader.”

Nguyễn Tuấn Sơn, a fine art teacher of the Nguyễn Tất Thành School, brought his students to the exhibition. They were moved to see the artworks depicting the life and career of the President, especially as they were created by artists they admire.

“We saw many paintings for the first time, they are very special in shape, form and style. It’s a rare chance for us to view the artworks of unique technique,” he said.

The exhibition will run until September 6 at the Việt Nam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyễn Thái Học Street, Hà Nội. VNS