When one thinks of an art curator, a young man studying law is hardly the first person that comes to mind.
Enter Mr. Jacques Ouaiss.
A lover of art in all its forms, he and his wife became renowned gallerists who inspire with their curated collections of wildly different pieces, including those from local Lebanese artists. Discover what he had to say during an exclusive session with BOC.
Can you tell us how your love story with art started? How did you decide to engage in this field and to open an art gallery in Paris?
It was all sparked by a passion for art, history, and creativity. I would travel a lot as a child, and many of those trips would take place within my own bedroom as I read book after book. I followed my parents’ advice and opened my first art gallery in 1984 when I was still a law student. It was a small space on Rue Saint-Honoré.
Back then you had two art galleries: one at the Louvres des Antiquaires and the second in Beirut. What were the artistic similarities between France and Lebanon?
The French market is internationally renowned. 75 million foreigners visit each year. It’s a specialist market. You’ll find connoisseurs from all fields; Chinese ceramics, glassware from the 1900’s, 18th century furniture, etc. The Lebanese market is a more eclectic one. It focuses on grand ornamentation, more so than the act of collecting art, although you can still find avid art collectors in the country.
With the transformation of art styles and the emergence of new ones, you decided to adapt to such new changes by opening the Jacques Ouaiss space with the help of your wife in 2011. What is this space about and what are its distinctive features?
People have different tastes now and the market has to adapt to a new clientele that grew to dislike the cozy and bourgeois interiors of the previous generation. It’s all about modernism and minimalism now. It was a chance for my wife Lorraine and I to evolve towards something new and become gallerists. We decided to promote emerging Lebanese talents, painters, sculptors, and furniture designers. We now represent thirty artists. I also provide art brokerage services to certain clients who wish to buy local art.
Today, you are mainly and exclusively focused on Lebanese artists, a field in which you became a specialist. How did the Lebanese market evolve since the nineties up to the present day?
The Lebanese art scene is booming. Artists here are both incredibly creative and highly skilled. Many have exported their work abroad but, unfortunately, there has been a general slowdown due to the financial crisis the country has been in for the past 2 years. Nevertheless, some are now investing in art using the Lollars currency and hope for a favorable conversion rate.
We saw that it was possible to personalize the works of art that you have. At BOC, we never compromise when it comes to personalization. In your opinion, how could a personalized work of art provide the client with an unforgettable experience?
Personalizing an art piece makes it unique. With the help of the artist and the gallerist, the buyer contributes to the singularity of an artwork, which is more often than not offered free of charge. Can you think of anything more pleasant than a tailor-made gift?
How do you hunt down new emerging artists and do you think Lebanese artists could stand a chance on the international scene?
When you organize several exhibitions and invite a large number of people, your gallery becomes famous for hosting talented artists who will, or have already become, famous worldwide.
Please mention 3 of your favorite artists.
It is hard to do this without making some people jealous. After all, I tend to defend my artists like a father his children. I will, however, take this risk and pick Selim Attieh, Samia Baroudi, Carole Ingea, and Nayla Tabet.
Art tourism is much trendy nowadays. Do you think you could offer an artistic activity in collaboration between your artists and BOC?
Absolutely, and I know how professional and competent you are. The works we propose are mostly exported abroad, and we would be thrilled to collaborate with BOC.
What are the emotions you seek to arouse in your clients through the works of art you exhibit?
Excellent choice of words. It is in fact a mix of pleasure, fascination, and attraction.
Do you have a message of hope to convey to the young Lebanese artists trying to break into this milieu?
Many are quite talented and I always choose to shed light on them. I am a mediator between the artist and the buyer but, although my role is important, they are the main elements and I put all my trust in them.
If you were to represent Lebanon in a work of art, what would it be?
I can only think of the work of one of the artists: the map of Lebanon shaped like a razorblade, with the caption “addicted to you”.
Did your children play a part in transforming your artistic vision?
Unlike my wife, my children are not interested in the gallery, except for Romain who is now my partner. He is building a website which I hope will boost our exposure worldwide.
How were you able to overcome the difficult moments in your career, especially this last year? What advice would you give to those who engaged in entrepreneurship and are encountering continuous hardships both at the national and international levels?
I’ve had 2 major drawbacks in 35 years. I was an Art Nouveau glassware specialist (Gallé, Daum, etc.) at the Louvre des Antiquaires when the market crashed with the Japanese financial crisis in 1989. The land of the rising sun was our biggest client. I had to deal with yet another setback 10 years ago, when the antiques market almost completely died. It was a considerable psychological and financial blow, as I realized that 35 years of knowledge and experience went down the drain. Nothing is granted. With perseverance, passion, and courage, we can overcome any obstacle. Intelligence becomes secondary if you can’t stand adversity. I encourage all young people to read Kipling’s poem “If”.
What role did your wife play in your professional life?
She played a crucial role as far as decision-making and selecting artists.
What is the most important lesson life taught you?
None of this is worth anything if you don’t have love in your life. There is no salvation without love. To hell with ego. It’s all about empathy and generosity.
