One of the most highly anticipated commercial gallery launches in 2015 was the launch of VNH Gallery in Paris. Situated in the former premises of Galerie Yvon Lambert at 108 rue Vielle du Temple in Paris, VNH Gallery is the brainchild of Victoire de Pourtalès, former director at Thaddaeus Ropac Gallery in Paris, and Hélène Nguyen-Ban, art collector and former fashion director of Nina Ricci.VNH Gallery was launched in April 2015 with an exhibition of Cameroon-born, Belgium-based artist Pascale Marthine Tayou (see slideshow here). The gallery is now closed while the renovation of the space are completed but will reopen on October 17 with an exciting collaboration between the Vietnamese-Swiss artist Mai-Thu Perret and US-based Swiss artist Olivier MossetTo find out more about the launch of VNH Gallery and the upcoming reopening, BLOUIN ARTINFO got in touch with the two founders and asked them a few questions.What led to the launch of VNH Gallery and what do you want to achieve with the new venture?Hélène : VNH Gallery is the fruit of our common passion for contemporary art. We met a few years ago as we kept bumping into each other on many occasions at art events in Paris and London. We discovered that we share a matching vision of artistic value; hence, we decided to begin this adventure and promote artists that we greatly admire.I understand that you both have a long history in the art scene. Who is Hélène Nguyen-Ban and Victoire de Pourtalès?Victoire : Hélène is above all a passionate collector. Most of her contemporary art collection is of an Asian creation background, but that is not to say that she is only bemused by the latter, as her sharp eye is open to anything that catches her attention; old and young, acclaimed and new upcoming artists.Hélène : Victoire is a gallerist for almost a decade now. Her never ending dynamism was first demonstrated when working at Thaddeus Ropac Gallery.What is the significance of the gallery space?Victoire : The gallery space is, of course, a heritage from the legendary Yvon Lambert. Our aim is neither to follow his tradition, nor to part with it. We want to exhibit what is important to us; what mirrors the gallery’s vision in order to bring a new life and story into this magnificent space.What sets VNH Gallery apart and how will you differentiate yourselves from other galleries?Hélène : We wish to emphasise the international and trans-generational aspects of our programme. The exhibitions will highlight the various characteristics of our artists by organising shows where they could showcase together and collaborate and thus challenge the visitor's vision and perception of contemporary art.Who and what will your focus be in terms of artists and artworks?Victoire: We are open to all art forms; we do not have any preconceptions about art, nor do we conform to a specific medium. The second exhibition will be a compilation of various expressions’ outlets, including performances.What do you have planned for the future in terms of exhibitions, events, and the trajectory of the gallery?Victoire : We are pleased to announce our second exhibition opening to the public on October 17th, just before the FIAC. This will be a show that will see two Swiss artists from two different generations, Mai-Thu Perret and Olivier Mosset, come together. We are very excited to reopen the space – after all the current works are being carried out through the summer vacations, will have finished – with such an extraordinary collaboration.Hélène : We are aiming to join the international art fair scenes, but first and foremost, our focus is on our own space, polishing the upcoming programme for the next year. We are building the identity of the gallery by making it a staple in the neighbourhood, the city and most importantly the international artistic scene.
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