Yves Durand, Nîmes scrap dealer and friend of artists, has died

Yves Durand avec l'artiste César, lors de la réalisation d'une compression en 1989. Midi Libre – Archives Carré d'art

Yves Durand, qui a longtemps géré l'entreprise familiale centenaire Durand récupération, a travaillé avec l'artiste César dans les années 1980. 

Despite his age, we could still come across Yves Durand recently, in the premises of the Durand Récupération company in Saint-Césaire. The Nîmes scrap dealer died at the age of 83 this Thursday, January 11. He had managed the family business for a long time, now in the hands of his children, Béatrice and Didier, representatives of the fourth generation. 

Yves Durand had taken the reins of the company, which has been recycling materials since 1902. Established near the Dhuoda high school at the end of the 1920s, the company moved in 1975 to Saint-Césaire, where it prospered. 

The family has always established a relationship with artists which continues today through street art exhibitions. In the 1980s, through the then mayor Jean Bousquet, he welcomed the sculptor César, then at the height of his glory. On site, the artist created several compressions. This is particularly the case of a work, today in the collections of the contemporary art museum Carré d'art, created in 1989 during' 39;a great performance in the company's premises in the presence of the entire local cultural community of the time.

His funeral will take place this Wednesday, January 17, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. at the Saint-Joseph-des-Trois-Piliers church, route de Sauve in Nîmes. To his loved ones, Midi Libre presents its sincere condolences.