Descripción

The Art of Collecting, Self-Portrait and the Primacy of Instinct

Simon de Pury is the Guest Editor of this new annual edition of TLmag, in which he appears, gavel in hand, as depicted by Urs Fischer on the cover. Entitled Jurassic Park, this work introduces a critical distance tinged with irony: Simon appears as an emblematic figure of the art market. The auctioneer embodies the decisive moment when the work shifts from desire to value, from gaze to transaction. The gavel, a symbol of authority and verdict, crystallizes the power to set a price, to consecrate a work, and to inscribe it, through an artistic gesture, into a global economy.

Parc Jurassique also evokes a prehistoric, almost fossilized world, where immutable rituals, protocols, and established hierarchies remain. The art market appears as a spectacular ecosystem, sometimes frozen in its codes, where mythical figures survive while coexisting with contemporary creation. This cover subtly questions the concept and reality of collecting, as well as the constant tension between innovation and artistic traditions. It invites the reader to glimpse the art world as a living landscape, traversed by forces, narratives, and paradoxes. Following in the footsteps of Bas Smets, Marco Sammicheli, Lidewij Edelkoort, and Chris Dercon, the content of this iconic edition of the magazine has been designed as a “carte blanche,” focusing on the personal and subjective choices of its author.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Spazio Nobile Gallery, dedicated to contemporary applied arts and fine arts, and the 18th anniversary of TLmag, which has now come of age, we wanted to delve into the depths and mysteries of a keen eye, such as that of Simon de Pury. The gems and passions, often kept secret like hidden addictions, are revealed before our eyes as we read these articles, which unfold like a diary set to music by our special guest. A state of grace can be read between the lines: a tribute to strong and sincere friendships, a deliberate eclecticism that reflects his generous personality. A collector of images and encounters, he makes no secret of it: his innate curiosity and energy are matched only by his global travels. His soul as a globetrotting gentleman is in tune with our vision of art and culture. Simon de Pury echoes the thinking of Saint-Simon: a resolutely positive faith in movement, the circulation of ideas, and the ability of art to shape the future rather than remain frozen in the past.

Lise Coirier, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief TLmag