A Talk With Trembley
Interview by Melissa Unger
WHAT INITIALLY INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CREATIVE CAREER?
It all started with video in the early 80’s. I wanted to make my own videos but I ended up producing videos for artists by co-founding a contemporary art video distribution and production company www.bureaudesvideos.com. I also worked in the New Media department at the Pompidou Center in Paris.
I always knew that I wanted to work in an artistic field, but it could have been fashion, design or graphic design, the specific direction I ended up taking was frankly sort of random.
YOU WRITE ABOUT ART, YOU CURATE, YOU COLLECT. WHICH OF THESE IS MOST FULFILLING AND WHY?
Working in museums and curating exhibitions is without a doubt what I prefer. It’s really inspiring and creative.
I adore a museum’s open spaces, the white cube, the warehouse; I love the possibility they offer, to fill spaces with propositions, questions, to try out new things.
Critical writing for me is quite a boring pursuit.
Image taken from ‘Around Max Bill’ exhibition curated by Nicolas Trembley at The Swiss Institute.
IS THERE SOMETHING IN PARTICULAR THAT HAS HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON YOUR OWN CREATIVE EVOLUTION?
To have been able to gather together my ceramic collection has been very important to me. I found them all on ebay. These objects were originally destined for the trash and now they are on exhibit and people love them. This experience served as a model for my approach to the collection that I currently curate: thesyzcollection.com.
My goal is to question one’s view of the value of certain objects, objects that initially seem to have no value, and to transform them into art stars.
To read more about Nicolas’ ceramic collection, click: here.
Ceramic vases made in West Germany from 1960-1980. From Nicolas Trembley’s personal collection.
DO YOU HAVE A MENTOR OR A MUSE?
I love John Armleder ‘s philosophy. Everything is possible with him.
WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT OBSESSION?
I really enjoy working on my blog and trying to match different images from different fields: nicolastrembley.tumblr.com
TELL US ONE OF YOUR DREAMS.
My dream is to make great art available to everybody. I’m totally against the idea of exclusivity, the notion of VIPs, anything that poses limits.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
The dialogue I have with the artists while I am curating an exhibition. I also enjoy shining a light on stuff that is usually marginal or relegated the edge, anything previously unknown or that does not conform to an existing accepted format or trend. It’s always been about showing new and different things because I hate conformity.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH THOSE SEEKING TO FOLLOW IN YOUR FOOTSTEPS?
Never be afraid, just do it. We all made mistakes, it doesn’t matter. You have to be proud of what you do and what you are.
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Published: September 28th, 2011
