Karolina Blasiak, Rosemont International Art Advisor had the privilege to be in the presence of Bogéna Gidrol, owner of the Bogena gallery (Saint-Paul-de-Vence - France) and the renowned French artist Nathalie Deshairs. This interview is the first in a series that aims to bring together international collectors, international artists and galleries on the same platform and to foster art dialogue. The premiere interview is dedicated to a French female artist, living and working in France, represented by a gallery based in Saint Paul de Vence with an international presence (in America, Europe and Asia), a true veteran in the field of art: La Galerie Bogena.
Good afternoon everybody, it’s a privilege to be here today in the presence of Bogena Gidrol, owner of the Galerie Bogena (Saint-Paul-de-Vence - France ) and the very well established French female artist Nathalie Deshairs.
Rosemont Art Advisory is really thankful for this production today, in our constant inspiration to bring international collectors, international artists and galleries together in one platform and bring the dialog together.
We start a series of ART interviews today, dedicated to a French artist, living and working in France and being represented by a gallery based in Saint-Paul-de-Vence ( in the south of France) with an international presence in art galleries in America, in France, in Asia, and a true veteran in art business: Bodena Gallery.
Rosemont Art Advisory has a true dedication to bring artists together and our constant motivation and desire to help people collect and fulfil their wishes through art.
We are here today to talk about the artist: present you her profile and silhouette and her universe. But also bring the understanding that the gallery is constantly producing for the artist, how the collaboration between an art gallery, an artist and an art advisor can meet in one big circle.
Artists have the power to give the feeling of real and complete life, art is something we can share. And if you are a family who has the capacity to buy art, it’s a connection that nothing can match: it creates conversation, understanding, and it’s a fantastic activity to bring people together and this is our mission today.
Bogéna, would you please say a word about your gallery, how did you start and when ?
BOGENA GIDROL, OWNER OF BOGENA GALLERY:
Yes of course ! So I started art activities in 1995, in Boulder, Colorado, I was there to follow my husband who was working there. In 1996, we moved to Tokyo, and during 4 years I show my artists, artist I love(d) in Tokyo different places and museums. We have incredible audience and possibilities there!
Then, after we went back in France, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence and I opened the gallery in the village in June 2000. I opened with 4 artists: Jeff Bertoncino, Carl Dahl, Franta, and Monique Frydman.
The gallery then grew, and Nathalie joined us in 2010, and we started to work with her from Saint-Paul-de-Vence, but also in Singapore, where I did some fairs and we opened a gallery a short time there, in West Asia, through the fairs: Art Miami (for example), Paris, at the Art Paris - she is always present at the Art Paris since 7 years with few others. We have the core, the gallery and we have an exceptional relationship. We love her work, we have seen her growing amazingly, she has a very special sensibility, but she is also an hard worker: she always have grown in her art and we see/saw the work moving, developing and it’s quite incredible. She’s very creative.
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY
Thank you.
Nathalie you are one of the rare French artist you have the capacity to really move the spectator and the collector, not only from the emotional point of view, but also from the philosophy you are trying to convey and I wanted to ask you a few questions for our audience to understand where you coming from, how you started working and living as an artist. So please share with us: when did you start to paint ? What was the inspiration behind it ?
NATHALIE DESHAIRS, ARTIST:
I started painting very early. As a child, then as a teenager. In fact I never stopped painting. I entered the Beaux-Arts, I wanted to learn, to continue to work painting.
But being a painter is something else than painting. I taught for ten years in an Art School and it is from 2004 that I decided to really "enter painting" as they say. Because it's difficult to do only painting today, you have to be aware of that. It is the commitment of a life. It is not a job, it is more than that. It is long, and one has to persevere. My meeting with Bogéna, her encouragement, her support and the confidence she gave me were decisive. All this is important in the life of a painter. You can have talent, you can work, but alone it is not the same thing. In my career as a painter I can assert myself more and more, thanks to collaborations such as with Bogena.
As for inspiration, it's difficult to say. When one begins to paint, there is above all a desire for enrichment, an eagerness to be nourished by the work of others, by great artists, by the work of masters. At the beginning I was passionate about the great Spanish masters, like Velasquez, from whom I was inspired to make a series after his Meninas. The history of art is very important.
So at the beginning the old ones, then Picasso, Tapiès and especially Barcelo. Afterwards, of course, you get out of it, you follow your own path.
The Flemish primitives have also fascinated me for a very long time. This painting has a strength, a light and something incredibly mysterious. In fact, I have made a series of portraits after the painters of that time.
The art of Asia also, Chinese calligraphy, ink work, as well as the work of Zao WouKi have inspired me a lot.
Of course all this is a fundamental food but I followed my own emotion, my own path. My universe is always centered on the human. I started with the body, many representations of the body, of the movement of the bodies, of the soul finally. Initially very figurative, then more and more relieved of the weight of the body, the representation goes towards something infinitely lighter and more poetic. What interests me today is the purification, to go always deeper, to probe the human soul in what it has of very strong and fragile.
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY
Nathalie, you have a tremendous workshop, a tremendous atelier in your studio obviously. You are a master of poetry, in your works we can see a beautiful mastery of abstract art. I’ve been always intrigued by your dialogue with poetry. Looking at your painting is almost like reading a poem. Can you please tell us what is you dialogue with poetry?
NATHALIE DESHAIRS, ARTIST
Poetry has always been extremely important to me. Already as a child I was overwhelmed by the emotional power of words or the contemplation of an image. I find that poetry is very important in life and can be found in anything: it's a bit like the way you look at things. I find that it is what makes the world better, just as beauty can make the world lighter and more bearable, I find that it is more and more essential in life.
In the painting I do, the poetic part is very important in abstraction, more or less: those traces of erasure, things that fade and come back, that may or may not be delicate. For me it's an almost invisible and poetic world where everyone looking at it can find his own reading and his own poetry.
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
So in essence Nathalie, your work really encapsulates the philosophy of the Wabi Sabi and I’m going to ask a question to the gallerist and the expert: could you please tell us what Wabi Sabi evokes and how we can find elements of Wabi Sabi in Nathalie’s work.
BOGENA GIDROL, OWNER OF BOGENA GALLERY:
According to the Taoist philosophy, beauty is something that is suggested, that can be guessed and not something that is completely revealed. It is up to the observer to interpret and complete a work, to fill the void. From the impressions and feelings felt through the sketch of a motif, a texture, a hint of colour, the shadow of a form, a word. For me that's what Taoism is all about.
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
Nathalie, looking at your beautiful paintings and seeing the poetry in and behind them, the light, the play of colours, the differences ways of abstract and non- abstract, the figurative personage.
Looking at your painting is almost like being in a dream. I wanted to ask you: what is your dream?
NATHALIE DESHAIRS, ARTIST:
My dream is very simple: to be able to remain a painter all my life, to continue to have the physical and mental possibility and the chance to be able to paint. Painting for me is not a profession but really "being in the world". I would like to be able to continue this all my life, to explore, to go always further in my work, to question myself, and of course to exhibit, to have the chance to be exhibited elsewhere, in the United States, abroad, to be able to share my work with other artists or art lovers.
The exchange and the possibility to continue working are two important things for me, that's my dream!
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
That’s a beautiful dream !
You have been exhibiting worldwide, in various galleries, various art fairs: you have a beautiful career behind you and I know a beautiful path in front of you. Before we talk about your future exhibitions, I wanted to know what are/is your favourite museum. (To help our audience understand your background, inspirations, the master you were looking at)
NATHALIE, ARTIST :
I love museums. They are silent, somewhat magical places, where, once again, we feed on many things. Going to a museum is necessary.
There are two museums I have been to several times, the Reina Sofia in Madrid, for its extraordinary collection of great Spanish artists of course. The place is very beautiful, it's a beautiful building. I love Spain and the city of Madrid.
The Academia in Venice, I went there often, because it's wonderful to be able to contemplate so many masterpieces. Especially the drawings of Leonardo da Vinci, it's very strong.
And also in Paris the Rodin museum, for its poetic walk in the gardens and its very beautiful collection of works by Rodin and Camille Claudel. This work of the body is in resonance with my painting.
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
Nathalie, could you please tell us when and where is your next exhibitions? So that we can follow you with great passion and expectation!
NATHALIE DESHAIRS, ARTIST:
The next exhibition will be at the Grand Palais in Paris, Art Paris Art Fair from 9 to 13 September 2020!
Then, see you at Art Miami in early December, with Bogena of course!
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
Bogena, can you tell us more about your stand at Art Paris? I know it will be your 7th participation at the art fair – which is a tremendous success for you, and it shows how much dedicated and engaged you are in the promotion and development f the career of every single artist you represent.
What will be the program this year? Which country will be honoured? What is your selection of artists?
BOGENA GIDROL, OWNER OF BOGENA GALLERY:
This year it's Spain! For this reason, we have chosen exceptional works by Manolo Valdez, Jaume Plensa, and contemporary Spanish sculptors: Juan Garaizabal is very honoured because he is going to create a sculptor of 11 meters at the fair!
We also have our emblematic artist: Nathalie Deshairs, with Monique Frydman, James Coignard and Flo Arnold, who is also a sculptor on paper.
We are quite happy that the fair is taking place, as it hasn't been so easy and we are very excited to show our artist's new works.
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
Congratulations ! Art Miami is also recognition for you to participate as a French Gallery: it takes a big recognition of prestige to be admitted to the art fair!
BOGENA GIDROL, OWNER OF BOGENA GALLERY:
Yes for the second year we will be at the Art Miami, also with Nathalie Deshairs and some other artists Monique Frydman, James Coignard, Juan Garaizabal, Fronta.
We are very excited!
KAROLINA BLASIAK, ROSEMONT ART ADVISORY:
I wanted to thank you both Bogena, and our distinguished artist Nathalie Deshairs for participating at our first live interview in some beautiful gallery here in Saint-Paul-de-Vence.
Wish you all the best ladies! Have a wonderful fair and wonderful exhibitions here in the gallery! Looking forward to following you soon and share your portfolio of art with our audience!
Thank you.
For more information:
Rosemont Art Advisory: k.blasiak@rosemont-mc.com
Instagram: RosemontArtAdvisory
Nathalie Deshairs: nathalie.deshairs@sfr.fr
www.nathaliedeshairs.com
Bogena Gallerie: www.bogena-galerie.com
Facebook:Bogena Galerie
Video production:
Vincent Lamourelle www.vincentlamourelle.com
Instagram: VincentLamourelleVisual