Painter Xuan Phuc was born and raised in a family with a tradition of painting. During his childhood, he was taught to draw by his father, painter Tran Xuan Vi. The influence of his family tradition, coupled with his childhood passion, shaped a unique artistic direction for him, painting portraits of President Ho Chi Minh.
Speaking about the circumstances that led him to paint portraits of Uncle Ho, painter Xuan Phuc shared: “Even when I was little, my father had the fortune of sitting next to Uncle Ho when he visited Thanh Hoa. My father painted many portraits of President Ho Chi Minh. He was also a model example, living and working in accordance with Uncle Ho's teachings. Later, as I grew up, I came to appreciate the immense contributions of Uncle Ho, his lifetime of sacrifices for the country and the people. Stemming from my deep love and respect for Uncle Ho, I paint him with a sense of responsibility, affection, and reverence.”
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| Works by painter Tran Xuan Phuc featuring President Ho Chi Minh have been exhibited in many countries around the world. |
In order to create successful portraits of Uncle Ho, painter Xuan Phuc has spent considerable time collecting and studying materials about him. He maintains a system of thematically organised references, such as: Uncle Ho with the police, Uncle Ho with the army, Uncle Ho with farmers. All are scientifically arranged. Once he has thoroughly studied the materials, he internalises both the style and the ideology of Uncle Ho to produce the most beautiful paintings of the late president.
“Capturing Uncle Ho’s eyes is extremely important. When facing the enemy or preparing for a campaign, his gaze is very resolute. But in paintings where he is with children or interacting with the people, I portray his eyes as warm and kind,” Xuan Phuc shared.
Nguyen Duc Du, an artist who matured during the resistance war against the US and also painted portraits of President Ho Chi Minh, spoke highly of his colleague’s work: “Xuan Phuc specialises in painting Uncle Ho, and he does so with the utmost sincerity. Wherever I see one of his works, I can immediately recognise it without mistaking it for someone else's. His paintings are meticulously refined, capturing the spirit of Ho Chi Minh in every circumstance, every historical phase.”
When researching materials, he is rigorous and meticulous; but when painting, the artist allows himself to be immersed in emotion. He always paints with a profound sense of respect and boundless love for President Ho Chi Minh.
Painter Xuan Phuc has elevated the art of portraiture to the realm of hyperrealism. Every detail about Uncle Ho’s eyes, forehead, beard, and strands of hair appears lifelike while still conveying warmth and emotional closeness. Viewers often find it hard to believe that he never formally studied art in any institution.
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| Xuan Phuc’s paintings always convey a sense of intimacy and tenderness toward Uncle Ho. |
Painter Luong Xuan Doan, Chairman of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, affirmed that this is a subject not everyone has the privilege to depict successfully: “The subject of our national leader is not one that just any painter can approach with enough emotional resonance to convey it successfully to viewers. I believe this affirms Tran Xuan Phuc’s talent in painting President Ho Chi Minh. His works are widely displayed in many places, particularly in government and state offices.”
Painter Nguyen Hong Tuan also remarked that each of Xuan Phuc’s works about Uncle Ho is painstakingly constructed from an artistic perspective, from concept to composition to technique — all executed with care and professionalism. His work allows viewers to truly feel the artist’s emotions toward Uncle Ho.
With more than 40 years of continuous learning and artistic creation, painter Xuan Phuc has produced over 2,000 paintings of President Ho Chi Minh. The more he paints, the more admiration and affection he feels for Uncle Ho. Through his artwork, viewers grow in their love and reverence for the President. Xuan Phuc’s greatest wish is to have his own fine arts museum, a place to exhibit his lifelong artistic output, with the most prominent space dedicated to portraits of President Ho Chi Minh.
