In tribute to Marie-Therese Coullery

Rudy Schnyder, Honory President

To Marie-Therese Coullery.

To our dear Mathe

Marie-Therese Coullery was the General Secretary of our Academy for more than twenty years. One can say that she was its soul.

Many of us remember her with a strong feeling of tenderness, and keep her memory deep down into their heart.

For those who did not have the privilege to meet this outstanding personality, full of warmth and energy, widely admired for her loyalty, we feel that we have to remind here what our Academy owes her.

Marie-Therese Coullery joined the Academy in 1976, immediately after her nomination as curator of the Ariana Museum, which has been the seat of the Academy in Geneva since 1952.

Before she reached this position, she worked for the Baur Collection in Geneva, which houses a magnificent Chinese ceramic collection. It is in this institution that she discovered Far Eastern Art and developed a passionate interest for it.

The Academy has greatly benefited from her passion - especially in 1979, with the creation of a Japanese section.

These close contacts with Japan allowed her to develop strong friendships, and these links spread afterwards to Korea and China. Mathe and Tanioka San, the General Secretary of the Japanese section, were such great friends that they considered themselves ®C and even called themselves - 'sisters',

Since then, the Academy has developed in a prodigious way and Marie-Therese Coullery took a big part in its many successes.

I remember our working sessions at her home, in Geneva, where we set up our great projects.

I also remember her generosity, her talent for communication and her sharp sense of friendship that contributed so much to gather all of us.

I remember her bursts of laughter that punctuated our serious discussions. Yes, Mathe was with us from the beginning of our opening towards the Far East, and its success is due in great part to her commitment.

To recall her memory here, in China, makes therefore much sense.

I hope our Assembly will take place in this spirit of friendship that Mathe spread all around her. If it is so, it will be held under a good star.

Thank you.

Rudy Schnyder