His appointment was confirmed this Wednesday: François Gianadda, 61, will take over the reins of the Pierre Gianadda Foundation in Martigny (VS), succeeding his father Léonard, who died in December. The challenge promises to be significant, but the lawyer-notary is counting on the support of a team he already knows well.
“My dad asked me a year ago,” replies François Gianadda when asked about the reasons which pushed him to take over the foundation created in 1978 by his father, the late Léonard Gianadda.
Guest on the Forum show on Friday, the Valais lawyer-notary also said he thought of his parents and the staff of the foundation he has known for so long when making his decision.
However, François Gianadda was not expected to take over the head of the institution. Many observers also considered it complicated to find a successor to Leonard Gianadda, a great patron and true figure in the field of art.
Modestly, his son believes “that eventually we will succeed him, but we will not replace him”.
>> Watch the Helvetica interview with Léonard Gianadda again:
>> Also read: Valais patron and promoter Léonard Gianadda died at 88
Supported by “extraordinary people”
The new president would like to emphasize that he will be surrounded by the entire Pierre Gianadda Foundation team, “extraordinary people”. He thus hopes to be part of “continuity”. “The whole program is already done for a while, we don’t have too many immediate concerns,” he adds. “Besides, the remains aren’t going to move.”
François Gianadda will be supported in particular by Anouck Darioli and Jean-Henry Papilloud, co-vice-presidents of the foundation, who have acted in the interim since the disappearance of the Valais patron.
The new manager further specifies that he holds a degree in history and will therefore “not be totally above ground”.
“The proposals are coming”
Concerning the exhibitions, Léonard Gianadda had carefully planned what followed, including an exhibition dedicated to Francis Bacon planned for 2025. “He was so proud,” remembers his son.
While the patron was already in the hospital, “he was still signing contracts,” says François Gianadda. “He did everything he could.”
This future exhibition will also be a test for the new president, who will see if the works of the British painter can appeal to a new audience, perhaps younger.
Radio interview: Thibaut Schaller
Web adaptation: Doreen Enssle
