French illustrator and his enduring relationship with Vietnam

Having studied at the Hanoi University of Industrial Fine Arts since 1987, illustrator Jean-Charles Sarrazin still regularly returns to Vietnam through seminars, workshops, exhibitions, meetings...

During this working trip to the provinces and cities of Vietnam, Jean-Charles Sarrazin had workshops introducing books, work, and creative process to primary school students at the Marguerite Duras French International School and Petite Ecole in Ho Chi Minh City, met with students of the French Institute in Da Nang and Hue, and interacted with potential members of the French Institute in Hanoi...

Hoạ sĩ minh họa Pháp và cơ duyên bền bỉ với Việt Nam

Illustrator Jean-Charles Sarrazin. (Source: French Institute in Hanoi)

International student at University of Industrial Fine Arts

Jean-Charles Sarrazin said that in 1986, he had the opportunity to meet poet Cu Huy Can - the Minister of Culture of Vietnam at that time.

He shared with the poet his desire to study abroad after graduating from the Olivier de Serres University of Industrial Fine Arts in Paris.

Immediately, poet Huy Can thought of Vietnamese art schools and helped him contact these schools.

And then, Jean-Charles Sarrazin decided to come up with a project on the exchange of artistic knowledge and sent it to the University of Industrial Fine Arts.

In this project, he expressed his desire to attend classes on traditional techniques such as lacquer, wood carving, silk painting and other Vietnamese arts.

In addition, he offered to organize and teach students at the European school of "Media Arts".

The project then completely convinced the University of Industrial Fine Arts and he was accepted. The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also decided to set up a scholarship for his project.

The artist shared: “The 1987-1988 school year was a wonderful year for me in terms of both work and social relationships. I met famous artists such as Bui Xuan Phai, Buu Chi...

Artist Jean-Charles Sarrazin also teaches art, illustrates and writes stories for children. (Source: French Institute in Hanoi)

As soon as I returned to France, with the goodwill of Mr. Nguyen Thu - Principal of Vietnam University of Fine Arts, I participated in developing cooperation programs between art universities in Paris and Hanoi.

I had the opportunity to meet young lecturers like Trinh Tuan at the University of Industrial Fine Arts and Tran Trong Vu, lecturer at the Vietnam University of Fine Arts.

I followed them on their bike trips to the countryside, to temples, to traditional festivals, drawing and taking pictures with them.

Inspired by Vietnam

In 2017, as author-illustrator, Jean-Charles Sarrazin was honored to be invited to attend the “European Literature Days” in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

On this occasion, paintings and photos taken during the 1987-1988 school year in Vietnam were also displayed alongside his illustrations for children's books.

In 2020, on the occasion of the launch of his first book Wisdom, inspired by the Vietnamese fairy tale Wisdom of Ours , the French Institute invited him to share, meet, discuss and exhibit sketches about Vietnam.

In 2022, during the quarantine period, he continued to have two online meetings with the French Institute Library in Vietnam.

In addition to working at the Ecole des Loisirs and Bayard publishing houses, Jean-Charles Sarrazin also taught art, illustrated and wrote stories for children.

He is currently the author and co-author of about 40 children's books and albums. He also writes a blog (http://jcsarraz.canalblog.com/) where he regularly shares news and his sketches.

Every morning, if possible, he draws his daily activities as short comic strips in his notebook, from observations, encounters to memories.

In particular, the stories about fatherhood in the notebook have become creative material in his works.

Paintings of Vietnam inspired artist Jean-Charles Sarrazin. (Source: Viet Phap in Hanoi)

This October marks a new phase when Jean-Charles Sarrazin has a special working trip organized by the French Institute in Hanoi to introduce his books and career stories.

Sharing about this return, he said: “The exhibition “From sketches to comics – behind the scenes of my career” is held at the new space of the French Institute in Hanoi. Thus, my story with Vietnam continues and I would like to thank this country for giving me so many things.”

The exhibition of works and author, artist Jean-Charles Sarrazin "From sketches to comics - behind the scenes of my profession" is taking place at the French Institute in Vietnam (15 Thien Quang, Hanoi).

The book sketches presented in the exhibition are Bonjour, Madame la Mort! ('Hello, Death'), illustrated by Jean-Charles Sarrazin, written by Pascal Teulade and published in Vietnamese.

In addition, readers have the opportunity to explore other works such as Pirate Tétine, Strawberry, Wisdom (inspired by Vietnamese fairy tales), Sassou, Say Hello! and Papa Coq (Rooster Father), all written and illustrated by him.

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