A CONVERSATION WITH LÊ THIÊN-BẢO,
GALERIE BAQ’S CO-FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR
Available in French on ACA (Asian Contemporary Art) Project’s website here
Conducted for ACA Project in August/September 2023, by Amandine Vabre Chau
Opened this year, Galerie BAQ is one of the few galleries in Paris devoted to contemporary art from Southeast Asia and its diaspora. Led by Lê Thiên-Bảo and Quinnie Seon Gin Tan, I had the opportunity to speak with Thiên-Bảo about the gallery's foundation, its curatorial approach and the French art market.
INTERVIEW
(left to right) Quinnie Tan and Le Thien-Bao © Mathilde Cazes. Courtesy of Galerie BAQ
Background : BAQ’s conception and curatorial approach.
Amandine Vabre Chau: Why did you choose Paris and why name the gallery BAQ ?
Lê Thiên-Bảo: The gallery BAQ stands for Bao and Quinnie. It’s both our names, me and my partner’s, Quinnie Tan. She used to be in Urban planning while I’ve been working as a curator in Vietnam. We didn't choose Paris as much as Paris chose us. I had no plans when I came to the city. Quinnie and I met here, through a common friend. I came up with the idea of opening a space then we partnered up, with her doubling as an investor. We started early/mid 2022 and it took us 7 months to secure a space.
Speaking of both your professional backgrounds, I saw you graduated in Economics and Management. What prompted the career change? Or did you always plan to work in this sector?
Yes, my background is in business economics and I changed career. I started working full-time in the art industry in 2016. Back then in Vietnam, we didn’t have— well, we still do not have— curatorial studies or anything like art management. It was on the ground learning. All of this grew my understanding of the art world as a community. I wanted to get involved more as it was no longer a hobby but a need in my life, I found joy in it. I decided to quit my old job, which was in a very corporate, secure and structured world. I didn't get any offers at all in the beginning, even by suggesting to work for free. I first wanted to be an intern for Sàn Art gallery and approached many spaces but was getting a little desperate. Then, artist Richard Streitmatter Tran took me to have an interview with Thuy Nguyen, the founder of the Factory Contemporary Arts Centre. She took me and from 2016 on, I started working full time alongside Art Advisor Zoe Butt. Then, in 2017, Zoe Butt became full-time Art Director and Bill Nguyen came on board. We formed a proper curatorial team with strategies and programs. Being the junior in the field, it was a tremendous opportunity to learn from such an amazing team. Those 3 years at the factory were really intense and played a crucial role in my career. It shapes my curatorial practice and how I look at non-profit and institutional models.
Full interview here
You can find more information about BAQ here.
Conducted in August 2023 by Amandine Vabre Chau for Asian Contemporary Art (ACA Project).