Each week, Kristen de La Vallière, design curator, editor and founder of say hi to_, asks three questions to our participants. Today Kristen talks with Jordan Geloto and Prince Malik Jewiti-R, co-founders of Artskop3437.

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Kristen de la Vallière: 2020-2021 has been full of changes for the contemporary art and furniture industry. We often focus on the negatives of those, but we think it could be a very exciting time to see all of the positive changes it may have brought about. What do you think the future of collecting and exhibitions looks like?

Jordan Geloto and Prince Malik Jewiti-R: This pandemic, with its periods of isolation, has taught us that the internet is indispensable and remains complementary to continue promoting artists and designers. We see the future in this duality of the digital and the physical. Today, we can already see that collectors living all over the world are delighted to be able to visit exhibitions and acquire works digitally. The greatest advantage is that it helps to build bridges and promote equal opportunities. However, we must admit that nothing replaces real encounters with the public during an event such as a fair. We see the future with more collaborations between the actors of the creative sectors with a greater permeability and a more open-mindedness between the disciplines.

“An event such as COLLECTIBLE, which is dedicated to 21st-century design creates a strong community of people who are passionate about contemporary design.”

KdlV: What advice would you give to those looking to start their functional art collection?

JG & PMJR:The best way to start a collection is to stay informed. This applies equally to non-functional art also. It is important to visit galleries, to stay up to date with their news and to visit fairs such as COLLECTIBLE. Don’t hesitate to follow artists and designers on social networks. Collecting functional art requires curiosity, audacity and an avant-garde perspective. It is also about knowing yourself, what resonates within you. Another option is to be open to advice from professionals in the industry.

KdlV: How are events like COLLECTIBLE important for functional artists, galleries and collectors?

JG & PMJR: An event such as COLLECTIBLE, which is dedicated to 21st-century design creates a strong community of people who are passionate about contemporary design. Meetings can lead to beautiful human projects and collaborations can emerge. It is a very important moment for galleries, artists and collectors alike because it is an opportunity to really connect with people and build a network.

About Artskop3437

Artskop3437 is a manifesto: proposing a place to discover, understand, and consider Africa, as both plural and global, through its creative arts. Founded in 2018 by Jordan Geloto and Prince Malik Jewiti-R, Artskop3437's mission is to promote contemporary African art and design internationally. To do so Artskop3437 works in close collaboration with a fine selection of artists and designers connected to the African continent in order to raise awareness of their work and talents.