Chavez painting fetches big cash

Published 16 September, 2008, 12:21

Edited 14 September, 2009, 09:02

A painting by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has sold for US$ 255,000 in an auction to raise funds for his political party. 'The Yare Moon' was painted by the flamboyant socialist politician while he was imprisoned in

Three Venezuelan businessmen joined forces to outbid a rival for the piece, which a presidential spokesman said had “symbolic value for the President and for the Bolivarian revolution”.

The sale marks the theatrical president's first serious foray into painting, but he's no stranger to art.

Chavez likes to open public appearances and political rallies with a few verses of traditional Venezuelan folk song, usually wearing his crowd-pleasing yellow, blue and red jumpsuit.

Last year he released a CD of folk music that featured him singing, and distributed it for free all over the country.

Every week millions tune into 'Alo Presidente', the President's weekly one-man television show.

If they're lucky, viewers might be treated to an interview with a charismatic personality, like his friend Fidel Castro. On the other hand, they might be subjected to an eight-hour speech by El Presidente, like in one episode last year. At the end of the marathon the government press secretary proudly declared the show had set a new record.

Chavez has even set his creative mind to developing new technology. The socialist leader has announced plans for a 'Chávez PC', which would be produced cheaply and sold to schoolchildren from poor families.

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