Thierry Bigaignon, Portrait of a future gallery owner 6/8

This week, for our sixth interview with Thierry Bigaignon, we’re taking a look, two weeks before the gallery’s opening, at the difficulties and concerns met as the opening approaches.

We will accompany Thierry Bigaignon over the next two weeks, until the gallery opening in June 2016.

Where are you two weeks from the opening?

Very thankfully, we are on track with our initial plans! The construction at the gallery is finally finished, the works of Ralph Gibson have arrived from the United States and are currently being framed, the media is regularly talking about the exhibition, not to mention the beautiful shows, interviews, and articles being prepared right now.  And, finally, the invitation cards for the opening have been sent.  All that’s left are a few small details to resolve, but I can say that, from now on, I am relatively calm.

You had exclusively revealed to L’Oeil de la Photographie that the first artist to be represented by Galerie Thierry Bigaignon would be Ralph Gibson, and you had shown us the poster of the inaugural exhibition “Vertical Horizon”.  Now, fifteen days before, can we see more?  

Yes, of course!  Besides the poster that I had shown in one of your columns a few weeks ago, I am pleased to be able to unveil to your readers, not one, but two other images from the series “Vertical Horizon”.  As for the photograph known as “cactus and cloud”, you can see right here as well, Ralph Gibson has a way of “lacerating” his compositions, playing with lines, opposing elements integrated into the frame.  Only he would have been able to make these photographs.  This singularity was always at the heart of his work, and it’s also a mark of greatness!

What obstacles have you met?

I must admit that I was very lucky because I didn’t meet any major obstacles to this day!  The biggest difficulty was having to juggle a bunch of different aspects at the same time and in record time.  Between the signing the lease and the opening this coming June 9th, only two months will have passed!  Of course, this project was prepared a long time ago, but in only two months everything was put together simultaneously:  the choice of works with Ralph Gibson, the transport management from New York, the construction at the gallery (laying down a waxed concrete floor, installing a specialized power system, painting…), alternative media communication , press relations, social media management, marketing… not counting the finalization of our line up for the months to come.  In brief, it’s managing time that was essentially the most difficult.

Did you resolve all the logistical questions associated with the launch of a gallery (graphic charter, web site, software…)?

I still have decisions to make in this area, but 80% of what I had planned is done.  The graphic charter and communication tools were finalized a while ago.  I chose an online database that will allow for the comprehensive management of the gallery (commercial relations, stock management, contact database, etc.), and we are going to push ourselves on the internet to expand promotional channels and a dedicated distribution network.

What are your concerns?

I think that the biggest concern for the gallery, as it is for all other businesses, is the result!  We can call the best service providers, select the greatest artists, make the most appropriate decisions and the most thoughtful choices, but no one is ever sure that the market will respond favorably.  What I know is that the gallery’s programming is solid.  For the rest, alea jacta est! The die is cast!

EXHIBITION