An intimate art lunch about art as a way of life.
TheMerode invites you to another edition of its recurring art lunch hosted by African artist and fellow member Kendell Geers. The special guest of this edition: Belgian collector Galila Barzilaï-Hollander.
Instead of keeping her eclectic collection to herself, Galila has opened the art space P.O.C. (Passion. Obsession. Collection), a testament to her unique, generous philosophy that defies all expectations. Mixing outsider art with design classics and museum-quality works by some of the world’s most important artists, her vision breaks every rule in the book.
One rather eccentric part of Galila’s collection will be on view at MAD Brussels from 14th March: “Matching Seats” showcases her extraordinary chair collection, as humorous as it is provocative.
Join us for a conversation with a true art passionate about art as a joyful addiction an approach to life, and of course - why Art Matters!
speaker
Galila Barzilaï Hollander started her collection around 2005 when she visited the Armory Show in New York City and fell in love with contemporary art. Ever since, her drive to discover emerging talents has been unstoppable. Curiosity, eclecticism, non-conformism, humour and intuition are some of the characteristics that define her way of collecting. “I am not an art collector. I am an ‘artoholic’, and this is a serious addiction. Art is the main interest in my everyday life. Besides the joy that it brings, aesthetics is a source of constant stimulation for the mind and spirit. It’s a spring of creativity and a problem-solving approach to life”, she says.
moderator
Kendell Geers is a pivotal figure in contemporary African art, whose powerful works explore themes of identity, resistance, and the complex legacies of history. Born in apartheid-era South Africa, Geers' journey from a working-class family to an artist in exile has profoundly shaped his unique artistic language, defying simple categorization.
Geers gained international recognition early in his career, with notable participation in the 1997 Johannesburg Biennale and Documenta 11 in 2002, curated by the esteemed Okwui Enwezor. In 2013, Enwezor further cemented Geers' significance by curating his retrospective at the prestigious Haus der Kunst in Munich. Now based in Brussels, Geers continues to push artistic boundaries, creating works that resonate globally while remaining firmly rooted in his African identity and experiences.
