Jean Pigozzi to Visit Kenya

International Fri 17-06-2011

Jean Pigozzi to Visit Kenya
By AfricanColours correspondent

Why is this news? It’s news because Mr Jean Pigozzi is the man who helped put African contemporary art on the global scene. He owns the largest assemblage of contemporary African art in the world, over 10,000 pieces, featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, photographs, installations and videos from artists living in sub-Saharan Africa.

Gallery Watatu's CEO Osei G Kofi with African Art collector Jean Pigozzi on the steps of Volta 7

And yet, this mécène for Africa has never been to Africa. Well, he was in South Africa once. “Long ago,” he said.

In the early 2000, Pigozzi’s Africa Remix travelling exhibition criss-crossed the globe and wowed jaded European, North American and Japanese audiences with the verve and vibrancy of master fundis from the Congolese School, notably, Cheri Samba, Cheri Cherin and Moke, to West Africans Frederic Bruly Bouabre, Koffi Kouakou and Malick Sidibe, South Africans Esther Mahlangu and Willie Bester and East Africans George Lilanga and Richard Onyango.

Osei G Kofi, the new CEO of Nairobi’s Gallery Watatu caught up with Pigozzi in Basel, Switzerland, where both are attending the 42nd edition of Art Basel (June 15-19).

“Let me be clear, Mr Pigozzi hasn’t said yes he will come to Kenya. Yet. I am determined to get him there and if I have to tie him up and bundle him onto a Kenya Airways jet, I will, “Kofi joked as they posed for photographs on the steps of Volta 7, one of the major satellite shows of the Art Basel mega event. Talking about who will bundle up whom, Mr Pigozzi is a hulking 6ft 4in and Kofi is a slight, pot-bellied 5ft something.

Two other contemporary art world personalities who will shortly visit Kenya on the invitation of Gallery Watatu are Ivorian-French Paris-based art dealer Jean-Phillippe Aka and Thierry Alet of New York’s Frere Independent. Mr Alet is also director of Guadeloupe’s Pool Art Fair.

Watch this space.

Posted By: Diana Achieng

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