ASTANA. July 13. KAZINFORM French artist Saulo Mercader is busy with painting a portrait of the First President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev at his studio in Paris.

He made it public at his solo exhibition at Has Sanat Art Gallery on Friday (July 13) in Astana. The exhibition is due to last until August 11.

"Right now I'm busy with creating a portrait of Nursultan Nazarbayev. I have just started this work at my personal studio in Paris," S. Mercader explained.

According to him, the idea to make the portrait came prior to his visit to Astana as a way to say 'thank you' to people of Kazakhstan. "The idea came when I was invited to do my personal exhibition in Astana. I will present the portrait in a year through the Embassy of France in Kazakhstan," he added.