About the Artist
Ernesto Ricou
Biography
Ernesto Paulo Ricou is a multi-talented artist and cultural pioneer with dual Portuguese and Swiss nationality. He honed his craft at the Escola Superior de Belas-Artes in Porto, Portugal, where he studied art from 1971 to 1974. Seeking new artistic challenges, he moved to Switzerland in 1974 to attend the prestigious Ecole Cantonale des Beaux-Arts et Arts Appliqués of Lausanne, where he specialized in engraving. Ernesto later earned his degree in engraving from the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Visuels in Geneva in 1981.
Ernesto's passion for cultural exchange and creativity led him to establish CasaMundo, a vibrant cultural center, in 1994. In 2004, he founded the Musée de l’Immigration in Lausanne, Switzerland, which celebrates the rich cultural heritage of immigrants in Swiss society. In 1996, Ernesto further honed his engraving skills and obtained the degree 2ème Cycle de Perfectionnement in engraving from the Haute Ecole d’Art et Design (HEAD) in Geneva.
For over three decades, Ernesto has also been involved in the conservation, restoration, and creation of works of art. Until 2015, he shared his passion and expertise as an art teacher in public schools in Lausanne, Switzerland, associated with the Haute Ecole Pédagogique (HEP). Today, Ernesto's artistic legacy continues to inspire and shape the artistic landscape, reflecting his lifelong dedication to the arts and culture.
In His Own Words
“Women and men in the center of the mysterious universe are my absolutely main thoughts and themes. The fabulous interaction between God and his creation, past, present and future.”
Who are you and what do you do?
Artist, engraver, art teacher, conservator, founder of an intercultural art center and the Immigration museum in Lausanne (Switzerland). Passionate family father of six. Baptized catholic... Swiss, Portuguese, Italian, French, Spanish and Brazilian, origins of my ancestors.
Why do you do what you do?
I am passionate for the universal man and woman. Passionate for spirituality, learning, teaching and helping the modest, sick, young and old. Sharing and praying every day for the sake of humanity.
How do you work?
Simultaneously in different medias, techniques and supports with the force and inspiration from above.
“Passionate for spirituality, learning, teaching and helping the modest, sick, young and old.”
What themes do you pursue?
Women and men in the center of the mysterious universe are my absolutely main thoughts and themes. The fabulous interaction between God and his creation, past, present and future.
What’s your background?
Three art schools Porto (Portugal) Lausanne and Geneva (Switzerland). Studies in conservation (France, Italy and Ecuador). Worked for two years in Porto's city museums as an art restorer.
How has your art changed over time?
With time my works of art have become more elaborated, more important in size and with much more intensive messages.
“Don't be afraid of discovering and facing strange images or unidentified things while you are drawing or painting.”
What is your inspiration?
Where I am living! Beans of all sorts, wine, church and organ music, Brazilian and soul.
What art do you most identify with?
The art of the Renaissance period of mankind history.
What work do you most enjoy doing?
I enjoy drawing and painting, learning, studying and praying.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
Don't be afraid of discovering and facing strange images or unidentified things while you are drawing or painting.
What’s your favourite artwork?
The Passion of Jesus Christ, made in a series of five different versions in different sizes and mediums.
Founder of the
Musée de l’Immigration
in Lausanne Switzerland
Nestled in the heart of Lausanne, Switzerland, the Musée de l’Immigration is a unique museum that was founded in 2005 by Ernesto Ricou, a celebrated artist and teacher. Despite its small size, the museum offers visitors a powerful and intimate look at the human stories of migration.
At the Musée de l’Immigration, visitors can explore a fascinating collection of carefully preserved suitcases, each containing memories, objects, and journeys that tell the stories of individual migrants. Through this exhibition, Ernesto Ricou aims to promote multiculturalism and encourage the integration of migrants into their new society.
The Musée de l’Immigration offers a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience, inviting visitors to reflect on the shared human experiences that transcend borders and nationalities. With its commitment to preserving and celebrating the stories of migrants, the Musée de l’Immigration is a vital and inspiring institution in Switzerland's cultural landscape.