Honey, I rearranged the collection!

Honey, I rearranged the collection!

Dr. Philip Cohen is what one might call a connoisseur of contemporary art. His collection was founded in the 80s. It was much refined in the 90s, and has become in recent years one of the most consistent and exemplary sets in the league of contemporary enthusiasts who, as we know, is international. To introduce these works to a wide audience means first and foremost to break into an intimate world, to peep into the life of an uncommon personality. For years, out of his sheer love for art, he has built a collection which was at first intended to remain confidential — a personal story, a private history. But there comes a day when the willingness to share disarms the confidential environment and allows the public to benefit from the grip of such a subjective enterprise. Collecting relies first of all on making a personal choice in the selection of works, then on keeping these safe. Above all it means to learn more, if not to know more than anyone else.

The art history of the past 20 years can be perceived in the works of this collection through iconic landmarks and relevant references. Browsing through the different parts and processes at work, trends appear that do not vary, revealing philosophical bases that more or less imply temptations that define chapters and modules. By virtue of its conceptual and cultural affinities, in contact with these works, a propensity towards the different types of language appears, towards the treatment of the idea of time and space and last but not least, towards artistic intelligence. In view of the diverse works of the collection, especially the video works but also all the pieces that deal with the moving image, we will discover an exceptional interest for a space-time that allows a certain number of appropriations to be made by the sole spectator.