"Despite the diversity of artists and mediums, the same desire runs through each of these works, the struggle for freedom. This quest, so essential to each of us, resonates here from one work to the next, as if the artists were together weaving an invisible dialogue free of all censorship. Art as the ultimate protection against all obstacles to freedom—this is what is celebrated in all the works in our collection.
"Inheritance Lost Library," a highly poetic work bearing fragile witness to a past that no longer exists, is an installation that incites us to remain silent. Berry Bickle depicts a world that is fading away; it is our role to imagine the world of tomorrow, a world rich with all the dialogues that never took place during colonisation.
Richard Mudariki, in "Fixing Africa," reminds us that Africa is a gigantic continent today, at the turn of the century, has to be reconstructed. Richard Mudariki calls on everyone, on citizens, political leaders, businesses and members of civil society, to work together to create a single entity. Through his work, the artist reminds us that Africa can only emerge from exploitation if we come together.
For Kudzanai Chiurai, photography, like painting, is an art of combat. For him, art is connected to boxing; his hard-hitting images oscillate between devastating humor and exacerbated cynicism. An image is a supreme sport that excludes no one.
Dan Halter takes us on the perilous pathways to exodus, the ultimate answer when all projects for moral and architectural reconstruction have failed.
Art is an invitation to dialogue; those who refuse this outstretched hand must be mad.
Freedom has not yet arrived, but artists are leading the way.''
* images courtesy Gervanne and Matthias Leridon Collection
The Gervanne and Matthias Leridon Collection is based on a human adventure; it is a story of artistic passions and encounters, of aesthetic love stories and choices.
For Gervanne and Matthias Leridon, Africa is the continent of tomorrow. They have never ceased in their commitment to artists who think, enlighten, question and liberate the world. They are devoted to sharing the passion that drives them, the sincere and personal commitment they maintain with each and every artist on the African continent, with as many people as possible. To plunge into the discovery of their collection is to open yourself to the unexpected, to take part in an artistic exploration of the diversity of contemporary African creation.
Gervanne and Matthias Leridon are passionate collectors who never consider an artist’s age, nationality, reputation or medium. Above all, they want to create a unique relationship with each and every one of these artists through their works. This has generated a collection that is unique and powerful, one that has become a point of reference in the art world.
This approach serves daily as a guide in the collection’s development and enrichment. To date, it brings together several thousand works by more than 300 contemporary artists, who come from 34 countries on the African continent. These works are frequently loaned to exhibitions in institutions, museums and other international venues.