On 21 November, Anisabelle Berès-Montanari was elected for 3 years President of the SNA – the National Union of Antiques Dealers – replacing Mathias Ary-Jan, now Vice-President.
I took this opportunity to speak with Anisabelle and her daughter Florence about theirs views on art fairs.

artfairmag: Galerie Berès participates in many art fairs, very well estalished ones like TEFAF Maastricht or La Biennale Paris, alongside younger ones like Fine Arts Paris or Antica Namur. Is your approach similar or do your expectations differ according to each of them?

Florence Berès: I select the works according to the customers. Some Dutch or European artists for BRAFA, International artists for TEFAF and La Biennale. But I still exhibit modern art and Nabis artists, wherever the fair is located.

artfairmag: Galleries generally focus on one particular specialty. Your gallery has a reputation for being focused on Japonese art as well as on French painting. How do you manage this double qualification? Do you sometimes mix the two types of art in a fair?

F. B.: Never. Japanese art is very specific and cannot be mixed with anything else.

artfairmag: Galerie Berès is a family-run gallery as your mother/ grand-mother Huguette Berès opened it in 1951. 3 generations of women are involved and that means a lot. Is it important for fairs visitors that both mother and daughter are on the stand or do you divide the task?

F. B.: We are trying to be booth present. But it is not a rule. On week-ends, I am trying to share moments with my children and my husband. They often come to see me on the stands. It’s very joyful and the visitors may be surprised sometimes.

artfairmag: Can you tell us a few words about the main challenges you usually face preparing a fair?

F. B.: It is not easy to select pieces that will attract the attention of the visitors. It takes a lot a time to make a good balance on modern and Nabi artists. We aim to surprise the public with a huge work of art. It can be a sculpture or a piece of furniture, not necessary a painting.

artfairmag: Most of the art fairs you participated in are located in Europe and a few are in New York. The art market in Asia is growing explosively. Years ago, you have once exhibited at TIAF in Tokyo. Would you consider taking part again in Asia art fairs?

F. B.: Why not? It would depend on the works I could exhibit, on the economic conditions, and so on. I would surely consider it seriously…

artfairmag: To conclude, can you tell us Anisabelle what is like being the first woman elected President of the SNA?

Anisabelle Berès: I am happy to be recognized by my colleagues in my business activity.