How others see us?

Claire Dupont and Pierre Courtin lived in Sarajevo for six and a half years. Here they got married and got children of Louis and Lily. Live your dream of Sarajevo and hope to stay for a long time because they are nice and do not want to go.

Pierre and Claire in his gallery

"If we succeed with our project, you may stay forever," says Pierre Courtin. His wife, Claire could not come to our conversation, because two small children are their most important and most challenging project, but he is here to tell us a story about the two of them. Story that inspires all those who know. Therefore it is necessary to go back to the beginning, at the time when Pierre first heard that story in his country of Bosnia.

"I was a teenager, I had 15-16 years and watched on television as well as other Frenchmen, what is happening here, but like most, I did not quite understand the events because the information was very confusing, I'd even contradictory. We in France have experienced it as an absolutely dramatic, terrible thing, "says Pierre, adding that his meeting with BiH can thank the study at the Paris Academy of Fine Arts, where he met with the student exchange program Erasmus. "I remember in the Academy library, saw hundreds of registers in which were the data and information about schools in which to study, then go through the Erasmus exchange student, and I accidentally came to the registers in which data were collected on the Sarajevo Academy of Fine Arts. I do not know what exactly happened then in my head, but I decided: I want to go to Sarajevo, I want to see this city. "

And what next?

 

Pierre cares about young artists

Thus, Pierre received a scholarship for four months of study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Sarajevo. "So I came the first time in Sarajevo 2001. and so begins the story. I met a lot of young artists, students and other young people, I published a lot and enjoyed the nightlife of Sarajevo. When I returned to Paris to finish my studies and put a diploma in his pocket, I asked myself: What next? I was very happy with my life the artist in Paris, "says Pierre, adding that his memories of Sarajevo and stay in it, did not produce peace. He thought about how to get back, it was important, and then figure out what is already there to work. "I went back to 2004th year. Claire and I are once again see the friends we met with artists, men of culture and more often I could hear the young artists have nowhere to show their works. Indeed, there was adequate space to defend the new forms of modern art, video and sound installations, all that I love very much, "said Pierre, and explains how the idea came to realization. "Then I told my friends the artists: Listen, I will go to the French Embassy, ​​will ask for a possibility of funding and maybe I'll have a better chance than some here, although it is sad. I like a little Frenchman who landed in Sarajevo, and no money being sought by those who have it and I will say that we need a little gallery. "Said, done.

Networking

Pierre and Claire were the only step to achieving his dream. They found space in the center of town, actually in Stakleni city, near the Cathedral, for paying the rent. Open the two exhibition spaces that rely on each other: gallery "Duplex" and "10 m2", that the work space, make it their center of modern art. They helped and still help the French Embassy, ​​Goethe Institute, and many, many friends from Sarajevo without whom Pierre and Claire would not have succeeded. Their galleries are doing great. Through them, so far, past hundreds of works of young artists, and they are trying to be equally represented domestic and foreign.

 

The Duplex is just an exhibition

They have great support from parents, however, stresses Pierre, without friends would be nothing. "I have a whole network of friends who support me in many things, from administrative and curatorial. We have helped hundreds of people so that each of them made by a pebble in our 'building'.Artists have always worked great to set a good show and we all dreamed the same dream, "said Pierre, and stresses that this is exactly what they want to promote art, and that it is particularly important as this project preserve full independence. None of those who have materially helped, did not seek concessions of any kind.

He plays classical music, and the coffee is excellent ...

Today, Pierre and Claire and their children Louis and Lily, the rights of small French family, young gallery owner says, 'installed' in Sarajevo. "We are fortunate to live near here, in the city center where our galleries. The school is also close, all of our best friends are there. Everyday life is very comfortable. This is a small town, which is easy to arrange that you find with friends at some of the interesting cafes.

 

Front of Pierre Duplex gallery

 

In the center of the theater, cinema and many places for art activities. I want to show others in Europe that in BiH there are still good and amazing things that just happen. I want to be an optimist and a dreamer and a lot of work to make things possible.What I never wanted is here to make a showcase of French art. It does not interest me. I'm just here to support young artists, "says an amiable Frenchman, and many could learn some things from him. Pierre has his favorite places in Sarajevo: coffee, "Kino Bosna" and the Vienna cafe hotel "Europe". "I go there almost every morning on my first cup of coffee before you get in 'Duplex'.He plays classical music, coffee is excellent and there often have business meetings. Viennese coffee house is almost like my second office. In Paris, everything would be much more complicated. After two hours drive from the metro, maybe I could meet with some of the friends and drink coffee, "says Pierre.

When you combine the charm of the French and the Bosnian Dream

Claire is perfectly met the Bosnian language is spoken better of him. For the French school and kindergarten that works at the Montessori program. "I understand Bosnian, but I need a little effort to speak it and think it's going to happen very quickly. When we went up over here, Dad asked me if I'm crazy and you know what I'm doing. Mom was very worried, but then they came to visit us and see that nobody here does not throw bombs, so we have hot water and everything else that we need for normal life. Now they are happy for what we do and we have their continuous financial support, "said Pierre.

"How long you stay, Pierre?" I ask. "I do not know. And Claire and the kids and I, we are very happy with our life here. Our job, keeping the art center and gallery, is not cost effective. This is a disaster, constantly struggling to devise ways of funding, to continue with our project. Generally we have no desire to go from here. We could stay next ten years, which in general is not excluded.If you go, it will only be because we failed to keep these areas. If we succeed, will remain here long, long time, perhaps forever. Our son, Louis Charles, Ibrahim, who is four years old, has been made here and lived here since birth. It can be easily imagined how his childhood experiences in this city, "says Pierre Courtin, and rushed into his gallery," Duplex "where it sets a new exhibition at the cultural event" Sarajevo Winter ".

Author: of the Week

Editor: Belma Fazlagic-Sestic