Symbolic Artworks Cement Vietnam - El Salvador Ties

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The José Alex Chávez (pseudonym “Aleph”), the creator of the two artworks, came from a long-established art school in El Salvador. He was an apprentice of Spanish painter Valero Lecha, also known as the "father of El Salvadoran visual arts".

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of El Salvador to Vietnam Ruben Omar Orozco Burgos (third from right) presented two El Salvadoran artworks to the Vietnamese Women’s Museum and the Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual High School as symbols of the connection the two countries of Vietnam and El Salvador (Photo: Nhan Dan Online).

Speaking at the hand-over ceremony on September 29, 2025 in Hanoi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of El Salvador to Vietnam Ruben Omar Orozco Burgos shared a memorable event happened after the great earthquake of May 3, 1973 in El Salvador. At a fund-raising art auction for the reconstruction of the country, the highest-selling art piece was by Valero Lecha, Aleph’s teacher.

“I believe Aleph has inherited and developed the quintessence of El Salvadoran culture and art, and at the same time expresses a unique vision of the world,” said the El Salvadoran diplomat.

He expressed the honor to give Aleph’s artworks to the Vietnam Women's Museum - a famous cultural address of Hanoi and the whole country - and to the Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual High School.

“Please respectfully preserve this painting, display it in a solemn place for the public to admire, and, if possible, attach a small plaque that reads: Gift from the Embassy of El Salvador”,he said.

As seen in the paintings, there are many typical characteristics of El Salvador visual arts, such as yellow and red cashews, pomegranates, and beans, which are the main daily food in El Salvador. There are also the “trompo”, a traditional children’s spinner game, and “tecomate”, an indigenously sourced item that was once used by farmers to store and transport water without plastic. All are combined with the image of the buffalo - a familiar symbol in agriculture.

These details both reflect the culture of El Salvador and suggest similarities with Vietnam. As the Vietnamese folk saying goes, "the buffalo leads the livelihood”, buffaloes are important farmers. Before the existence of machinery, the buffalo was like a family member, making a huge contribution to agricultural production. Vietnam and El Salvador sharing the symbolic meaning of buffalo is a vivid testament to the bond between the two peoples.

José Alex Chávez (pseudonym “Aleph”) is the creator of the two artworks (Photo: Nhan Dan Online).

The second artwork is titled "Noble Amigo de El Salvador" for honor those who made positive contributions to El Salvador. It is a gift to the Wellspring Hanoi International Bilingual High School.

The painting features a school yard with a giant chessboard, where teachers, students and parents can participate together. This is not only an intelligent recreation but also a community engagement activity.

"I believe that this picture will inspire learning, the desire for integration and the spirit of humanity among the younger generation, especially in the international bilingual education environment. This holds a cultural meaning but also shows El Salvador's view that education is a sustainable bridge to connect people, foster friendship and mutual understanding," Ambassador Ruben Omar Orozco Burgos affirmed.

The prestigious gift to the bilingual school forms a bridge between culture and education, affirming the role of education in spreading global humanistic values.

In his remarks, Dr. Nguyen Vinh Son, General Principal of Wellspring Hanoi emphasized that the painting is a precious symbol of cultural diplomacy as well as a message for the generation of Vietnamese students in general and in his school in particular to nurture the spirit of humanity, education and the responsibility of global citizens.

“The chessboard is a global symbol of wisdom, strategic thinking and sportsmanship. On the board, each piece has its own identity, proposition, and value, but only when harmoniously connected can they create a balanced and brilliant game. These are the same values that Wellspring steadfastly pursues - liberation, humanity and integration - to nurture the next generation of global citizens,” he said.

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