Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, offered incense to commemorate Ms. Myshu Lebadang.

The news of Myshu Lebadang’s passing has saddened many people. Coincidentally, more than 8 years ago, the famous painter Le Ba Dang also passed away at the age of 94. Although they became famous abroad, they always felt a deep love for their homeland.

The silent "partner"

Today (January 11), the funeral of Ms. Myshu Lebadang was held by her family at 1:30 p.m. local time at the Coupole du Crématorium du Pere Lachaise Funeral Home, Paris, France. To commemorate the contributions of the woman who quietly stood behind the successes of the late famous painter Le Ba Dang, on the same day, the Department of Culture and Sports of Hue also held a memorial and gratitude ceremony.

Held at the Le Ba Dang Art Center (Hue Museum of Fine Arts, 15 Le Loi, Hue City), the memorial and tribute to Mrs. Myshu Lebadang took place in an emotional and cozy manner. The altar with Mrs. Myshu Lebadang's portrait, chrysanthemums and white candles was placed in the front of the large auditorium, next to her husband's typical works.

Representatives of departments, branches, artists and many art lovers came to offer incense and flowers. The Provincial People's Committee and many museums inside and outside the province also sent wreaths.

Mrs. Myshu Le Ba Dang, real name Micheline Nguyen Hai, was born on July 5, 1929 in the port city of Le Havre. She is the daughter of Mr. Nguyen Hai, a Vietnamese businessman who came to France to work, and Mrs. Simone Pauline Bessin, a French woman.

Married to Mr. Le Ba Dang in 1950, although she had a stable job as a fashion designer for a famous brand, she decided to put aside all her passions and devote all her time to taking care of her husband and children.

Mrs. Myshu Lebadang was the wife, close friend, and "collaborator" who accompanied the late painter Le Ba Dang throughout his life and artistic career.

She is the woman who quietly stands behind all the successes throughout the artistic career of the famous painter Le Ba Dang. She and her husband have made great contributions to the Vietnamese art career in general and the ancient capital of Hue in particular - where he entrusted his love and left hundreds of works to create a famous artistic space.

Towards home

Love for the homeland was always in the hearts of the two grandparents, that love was expressed through supporting the resistance war against France, contributing to the activities of the delegations of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam to France to attend the Paris conference to negotiate peace in Vietnam.

The house on Boussingault Street, District 13, used to be a familiar meeting place for the Vietnamese diplomatic delegation during the years of resistance against the US. Her practical actions added inspiration to her husband's creativity and love for his homeland - the late painter Le Ba Dang.

Representatives of departments, artists and writers offered incense and commemorated.

“She used to raise money to buy painting tools and organize exhibitions for painter Le Ba Dang with the desire to promote his talent to bring glory to Vietnam. She and her husband also helped Vietnamese students in France, Vietnamese delegations in Paris and participated in activities to protest the war in Vietnam, support the Vietnamese army by sending medicine to treat wounded soldiers…”, said Ms. Dinh Thi Hoai Trai, Director of the Hue Museum of Fine Arts.

Looking back at Mr. Le Ba Dang's artistic career, Ms. Trai said that it was Ms. Myshu Lebadang who always encouraged and motivated him to create and was the first person to see his paintings. It was Ms. Myshu Lebadang who supported her husband in donating nearly 400 works to Thua Thien Hue province and joined hands with the province to establish the Le Ba Dang Art Center (now one of the three spaces of the Hue Museum of Fine Arts).

After her husband passed away, Mrs. Myshu Lebadang continued to care and show affection for Thua Thien Hue province. In 2017, she continued to donate 13 works by painter Le Ba Dang to add to the art collection of the Le Ba Dang Art Center, contributing to widely introducing them to the public. She also always discussed and shared ideas to better preserve and promote the collection of the late famous painter Le Ba Dang.

“We will always remember the noble deeds and actions of her and her husband for Thua Thien Hue province in particular and Vietnam in general. We will continue to preserve and promote the heritage values ​​that she and her husband left for Hue as they wished during their lifetime,” the head of the Hue Museum of Fine Arts confided.

  Provincial People's Committee sent a letter of condolences to the family

At the memorial service, the organizing committee also read the condolence letter of the Provincial People's Committee signed by Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong, sending deep condolences to the entire family of Mrs. Myshu Lebadang.

According to the letter, the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province always respects and acknowledges the deep affection and valuable contributions and support that Ms. Myshu Lebadang and her family have given to Thua Thien Hue province in donating the artworks of the late painter Le Ba Dang as well as accompanying and supporting the Hue Museum of Fine Arts and Le Ba Dang Memorial Space over the past many years.

“On behalf of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue province, I would like to express my most precious feelings for the great contributions to cultural and artistic activities of the family of the late painter Le Ba Dang and Ms. Myshu Lebadang personally. I wish Ms. Myshu Lebadang to rest in peace and hope that her family will soon overcome this great loss,” the letter read.

NHAT MINH