Photos: FotoGstaad.CH
Art historian, dealer, and collector Georges Marci at Abdulnasser Gharem's exhibition at Chalet Saqqarah in February 2015.
The Formidable Georges Marci An Interview with Gstaad's First Gallerist Strolling through Gstaad, there are art galleries left and right. But this wasn’t always the case. Gstaad owes its foray into the arts to Georges Marci, the art collector and dealer who founded Chalet Saqqarah as Gstaad’s first gallery in the early 1970’s. Since that time, Ms Marci has brought a wealth of new art and artists into the region, and continues to do so despite retiring and closing her gallery in Paris years ago. She now runs Chalet Saqqarah as a private exhibition and concert space focusing on the Middle Eastern art and classical music that stirs her heart.
historian still has movie star looks–and the brains to match. With decades of experience representing some of the greatest artists of all time, Ms Marci knows the insand-outs of this unique world like no other. Georges is an unusual name for a woman. How did you wind up with a traditionally male name? I was named after the famous French author Georges Sand, Chopin’s lover.
You’re Swiss. Did you grow up here or abroad?
Sidney Janis and Leo Castelli took me under their guidance and brought me to New York to view Jasper Jones and Robert Rauschenberg. I brought the work of Jasper Jones to Europe and made his first and second show in Paris even though he was much older than I was I also represented Yves Klein after his departure from Galerie Iris Clert. I collaborated with Dr. Paul Wember at the museum Haus Lange in Krefeld. Under the guidance of Yves Klein we created Flowers of Fire and the Fire Walls in Krefeld. I also collaborated with Dr. Wember on his catalogue Raisonné of the works of Yves Klein after Klein’s death.
BY ALEXIS MUNIER
GSTAADLIFE had the pleasure to sit with Ms Marci in the Saqqarah’s colourful hundred-square meter space overlooking seven mountains, for a discussion on her extraordinary life and life’s work. Marci’s eyes lit up as she described her passion for contemporary art and her latest discovery, Saudi artist Abdulnasser Gharem. The petite, well-educated art
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I am Swiss but was educated in Paris. I was always attracted by French culture and France taught me lot. It was a wonderful platform for the contemporary art scene in the 70’s. It is also the place where I made the transition from child to woman.
How did you get your start in the art world?
PROFILE // GSTAADLIFE // ISSUE 7 // DECEMBER 18, 2015
When did you first discover Gstaad, and what drew you to the region? The impact of working with Klein and Jasper Jones was so great that I developed jaundice. After I was cured, the doctors advised me to go to St. Moritz. No hotels were available so the travel agent sent me to a little village called Gstaad. I fell in love with the simple atmosphere which boosted