A dream come true for Seychelles artists

After so many years of striving to have a place of recognition for their artworks, Seychellois artists’ dreams have finally come true, with the opening of a National Art Gallery.

The opening ceremony was held as part of the celebrations for the 29th Festival Kreol earlier this week, and Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange had the honor to do so. The National Art Gallery houses the National Arts Collection and the new Azais collection.

Minister St.Ange said it is with great honor and pride that Seychelles gets back its own art gallery after so many years of closure.

He said each artwork in this gallery marks a period in Seychelles’ history, and the collection of paintings on these walls show different phases the country has gone through.

Minister St.Ange expressed words of thanks to everyone who has in one way or another helped to preserve these paintings that are not being valued.

The national arts collection is made up of paintings from the Seychellois visual artists as well as from personal collections of other individuals.

People who have donated such artworks include Dr. Guthauser, a Swiss doctor who retired in Seychelles and lived at Beoliere for many years before he passed away, and Michel le Tellier, a former director of L’Alliance Française back in the 1980s.

The Azais collection is made up of portraits of individuals who have made a mark in law, politics, business, religion, culture, and other aspects of Seychelles’ history.

The Chargée d’Affaires of Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Alexandria Azais, who painted all the artworks in the Azais collection, said Festival Kreol gives foreigners to Seychelles the chance to express their Creole culture experience in various ways.

Minister St.Ange thanked Mrs. Azais for being a faithful partner to the Culture Department and for appreciating the Seychelles culture, history, and traditions.

He added that in the gallery, artists will have a place to exhibit their artwork and paintings in the national collection which will be rotated every three months so that people will get the chance to see other artworks in this collection.

At the end of the ceremony, Mrs. Azais handed over to Minister St.Ange a portrait of his father Karl St.Ange who was a strong political figure, starting in the early 60s.

Present for the ceremony were many high-government officials as well as members of the families whose paintings form part of the Azais collection.

Minister St.Ange thanked his PS for Culture, Benjamine Rose, for her guidance in getting the National Gallery back and Mr. Pierrelouis for overseeing the works in the gallery.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .