EGO, Peter Pan. La nécessité du rêve, Alice in Doomedland, Hansel & Gretel - White Traces in Search of Your Self, Beauty and the Beast, The Elegant Symmetry of the Gorilla, The Room of Tears, Janus, Tell me the Truth, Tintswalo African Colors, Ivo in Tanzania, El Cuor No Se Vende, Collection d’Artistes
Didier Guillon (born 28 March 1953) is a French-Swiss art collector and artist.[1][2] He is known for his numerous exhibitions both in Switzerland and around the world.[1]
Didier Guillon was born on 28 March 1953 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.[8] He comes from a family with a background in the arts,[1] being a descendant of Charles Sedelmeyer, an art collector, and the great-grandson of French sculptor and art historian Stanislas Lami.[2]
Since 2013, his works have been featured in exhibitions in Switzerland and other countries.[1] In 2015, he established the Valmont Foundation, which is dedicated to "promoting art, beauty and uniqueness" by collecting and exhibiting contemporary art in Switzerland and abroad.[1] He is married to Sophie, who is the CEO of the Valmont Group, and with whom he has three children: Capucine Guillon, Maxence Guillon and Valentine Guillon.[1][9]
Guillon creates art using different materials like newspapers and cardboard. His artwork often features three main symbols: a mask, a gorilla, and a cage.
In 2015, the "Collection d'Artistes" exhibition took place, featuring nine works, each consisting of ten copies.[10][11][5] In 2018, an art exhibition titled "The Elegant Symmetry of the Gorilla" was held in New York, showcasing 30 works designed and created by Guillon.[12] The collection included sketches and collages, vinyl silhouettes, Murano glass reliefs, metal sculptures, and more.[12]
In 2019, a group exhibition on musical themes titled "Hansel and Gretel" was organized at Palazzo Bonvicini in Venice.[1] In 2020, Guillon had an exhibition titled "Venetian Love" at Palazzo Bonvicini in Venice.[6] In 2021, he organized the "Janus" exhibition at Fondaco dei Tedeschi, dedicated to the concept of renewal, end, and beginning.[3][13][14][4] The "Room of Tears", exhibited in the same year, depicts human issues in contemporary society.[15]
In 2021, Guillon held an exhibition called "Tintswalo African Colours" at Casa degli Artisti in Milan.[16] He designs his works and exhibitions mainly from recycled materials.[2][17]
Reception
Sabah Kaddouri, writing for the French edition of American business magazine Forbes, stated that Didier Guillon's work "compels people to open themselves up" and "reconnect with their humanity."[18] French fashion magazine L'Officiel has described Didier Guillon as a contemporary art representative, who collects and exhibits works of art.[1]
Exhibitions
Year
Title
2024
ULYSSES. We are All Heroes, Palazzo Bonvicini, Venice
IVO in Japan, La Maison Valmont Madrid, New York, Paris
2023
EGO, Palazzo Bonvicini, Venice
HOPE, La Maison Valmont, Berlin, Munich, New York, Madrid, Paris
IVO In Tanzania, Ginza-Six, Tokyo
2022
Peter Pan. La nécessité du rêve, Palazzo Bonvicini, Venice[19]
Blessing in Disguise, Historical Archives Museum, Hydra[20]
Hadrien Dussoix et Didier Guillon s’amusent, La Maison Valmont, Munich
IVO in Tanzania, Mokdong department store – Seoul, South Korea
2021
Tintswalo African Colors, Casa degli Artisti, Milan[16]
Alice in Doomedland, Palazzo Bonvicini, Venice[19][21][15]
The Room of Tears, La Maison Valmont, Munich[21][15]
Janus, La Maison Valmont, Berlin, Munich, Historical Archives Museum, Hydra, Fondaco dei Tedeschi, Venice[13][14][3][4]
Au coeur du bois, Didier Guillon & Christian Renonciat, La Maison Valmont for Le Meurice, Paris
↑ 5.05.15.2"Art català als aparadors més luxosos del món". Ara (newspaper) (in Catalan). 18 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2024. Els altres sis artistes presents en aquesta exposició són Bénédicte Blanc-Fontenille, Jane Le Besque, Leonardo Cimolin, Quentin Garel, Yves Bélorgey i el mateix Didier Guillon, que no només és col•leccionista i que ha fet per a l'ocasió un cub metàl•lic amb l'ajuda del taller venecià Berengo.
↑ 15.015.115.2Valentina Nuzzi (1 June 2021). "Alice in Doomedland è la nuova mostra di Fondation Valmont che rilegge il cult di Carroll". Harper's Bazaar Italy (in Italian). Retrieved 16 April 2024. L'ultima tappa del viaggio di Alice è The Room of Tears di Didier Guillon. Qui l'artista esplora e riproduce in serie uno dei suoi simboli ricorrenti, la cage, investendola di un nuovo significato. Le sue gabbie blu si prestano infatti a contenere le lacrime di Alice, che poi vediamo riversarsi in una serie di scatole, emblema di altrettante sfide dell'uomo nella società contemporanea.
↑Kaddouri, Sabah (14 January 2022). "Didier Guillon, l'art en héritage". Forbes (in French). Retrieved 13 April 2024. Didier Guillon interpelle son public sur la quête de soi, sur le besoin de retrouver son chemin en tant qu'adulte dans des métropoles en perpétuel mouvement, mais aussi sur la nécessité de renouer avec son humanité.
↑ 26.026.1Lucy Rees. "Valmont's First U.S. Art Exhibition Has an Unlikely Subject". Galerie Magazine. Retrieved 14 April 2024. For the past few years, he has curated exhibitions during the Venice Biennale at the 16th-century Palazzo Tiepolo Passi along the Canal Grande. Earlier this year, the foundation hosted a show featuring keys works from the brand's private collection at a castle in Switzerland. In 2016, he curated a group show "El Cuor No Se Vende" at the Historical Archives Museum of Hydra, Greece.
