"Born into a family of artists, the owner of this collections, whose grandmother had lived and painted in Africa, was already, without knowing it, predestined to appreciate tribal art. His taste and desire to enhance the family's tribal art collection were first helped by Parisian gallery, then by the collaboration with an art dealer who already owned an important collection of African pieces. His knowledge of modern and contemporary art was also decisive in his eye and choice. not long after this, I made his acquaintance and he acquired through me his first Songye piece...This acquisition completely changed his vision and took his collection in a totally different direction. After the "majesty' of the Baoule or the 'classicism' of the Kota reliquaries, we are today transported by the 'Art of the Forest' from the Azande and the Vere to the Songye 'power object.' From this initial passion, a sincere and unpretentious collection has been created." --Didier Claes.