Jean Phillipe Vernes
bluebee met Jean Phillipe to talk about the thought behind his art collection, how emerging artists can meet art collectors and the role of philanthropists in the art world.
Jean Phillipe has been an art collector for most of his life. At 21, he bought his first artwork which materialised this urge to collect. On special occasions, his house near Paris is now even open to the public to show his extensive collection. For him, art nourishes his being. Jean Phillipe is very much only
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interested in conceptual work. He is most intrigued by artists who can bring “Tangibility to Invisibility”. Most of the pieces are sculptures and photographs, and very few paintings. Some of the pieces are beautiful to look at, but all of them have a deeper meaning based on literature, history or philosophy. A majority of them even include words within the
artwork. Jean Phillipe’s collection tells a story; you go from one artist to another and each has a lot to say. He doesn’t do visual art himself but sees his collection to be artwork on its own. When it comes to art, Jean Phillipe is not commercially minded. He doesn’t have an art advisor but likes