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Exclusive interview with Jean-Conrad and Isabelle Lemaître
22 Apr 2008
Jean-Conrad and Isabelle Lemaître have lived in London for 18 years and have been collecting contemporary art since 1982. Their focus over the past ten years has been video art, an interest which stems from their passion for cinema.
Johanna Billing, Where she is at, 2001, DVD, 07.35/loop, Courtesy of Hollybush Gardens
Collection Lemaître
The Lemaître's have been generous in lending works for museums, exhibitions and showing their video art at home. They support a number of public institutions. Their collection includes work by the Turner Prize-winner Gillian Wearing, Mark Wallinger, Tacita Dean, Isaac Julian and Steve McQueen.
What made you buy video work over any other artform?
We have always been cinema lovers. When we discovered video art in an exhibition in London, we realized that it would combine our two passions for contemporary art as well as our fascination for cinema. So we decided to focus on video because moving image is now everywhere.
What excites you about your collection?
To discover and acquire works for which we have a “coup de coeur” and to share our passion with others.
Arthur Kleinjan, Skipping, 2004, video, duration: 03:17 min, Courtesy of the artist and
Gallery Ron Mandos, Collection Lemaître
What was your first video purchase?
Gillian Wearing “Boys time” 1997
How do you experience the work you collect?
In the guts!
Amikam Toren, Carrots, 2008, DVD, 17 min 19 sec, Edition of 5 + 1AP, Copyright of the artist
and Anthony Reynolds Gallery, Collection Lemaître
Which institutions do you support?
We are Friends of the Pompidou Centre and Friends of Fondation La Maison Rouge in Paris. We have also created and sponsored "VideoCollector" at Le Fresnoy in Tourcoing, which is a prize for young video artists.
What advice would you give to others who are thinking about collecting video?
Not to be worried about the technical aspects of conservation. To watch many videos; to try and see a lot of works as in other forms of art in order to educate your senses; to take the time to look at works and buy what you like.
