In Vannes, the Les Funambules gallery casts off

“We had become the deans! », notes Nathalie Bobin. In the small world of Vannes art galleries, the Funambules are anchored in the landscape. First on the port, then Place de la Poissonnerie. Exactly 20 years ago, Nathalie arrived from the world of communications. Matthieu wanted to escape the solitude of his workshop. Together they put down their bags in their vacation region with the idea of becoming gallery owners, a profession from which they had to learn everything.

“Gallery owner is a link between artists and clients. We liked to give buyers confidence, to make them feel legitimate,” explains Nathalie. “What I remember are the artistic and human encounters. I fed off the work of others,” adds Matthieu. Over the years, it’s almost a partnership that has been created with around fifteen artists. “The gallery has become a family thing, but at some point, you have to leave the nest,” summarizes Nathalie.

Nomadic exhibitions

On October 26, the gallery will close its doors. It is neither an economic reason nor the evolution of the city center that motivated their decision, even if they regret that the intramural area has become “so touristy that there are only people who pass.”

“We want to continue this activity, but in a less sedentary way,” explains the woman who also became a graphic designer. “I have never wanted to paint so much, to work on large formats,” says Matthieu, who today dreams of… the concentration of the workshop. A few weeks a year, in Vannes or in its area, in an empty apartment or business, an oyster farm or any other place in line with their projects, they will imagine ephemeral exhibitions.

Their first project will take the dual form of a book and an exhibition, at Bigotes. In 2023, Matthieu followed Anne Le Ny during the making of her film in Vannes with Omar Sy, Élodie Bouchez, José Garcia and Vanessa Paradis. He, who likes the exercise of the travel diary, has launched a “film diary” which will be released at the same time as the film. “Now we are going to work at home, each in our own workshop,” explains the couple, who have just passed another milestone, that of fifty.

The best for the der

The place already has another life in the works: restored furniture and decoration shop. But not before one last exhibition. No question for Nathalie and Matthieu of clearing out the gallery. “We wanted to celebrate 20 years and the new page that is opening! » So they asked the artists they support and whom they have supported. More than twenty of them responded to the invitation: “to give the best of themselves. » A great challenge taken up with pastel, linocut, ink, enameled glass or watercolor… To be discovered on the line before new adventures.