biography
–
26 NOVEMBER 1966. IN PARIS.
FROM YOUNG PARENTS, VERY YOUNG.
GERARD. HER GRANDFATHER. THE MAN OF HER LIFE. CONFECTIONER OF MEMORIES, MAN OF THOUGHT. CREATIVE. DESIGNER.
HE WILL RAISE HER, ENLARGE HER SOUL AND BATHE HER IN CULTURE.
PAINTING, SCULPTING, DESIGN, LITERATURE AND GASTRONOMY QUICKLY BECOME HER PLAYGROUND.
APPLIED ARTS + CURIOSITY + “TASTE EVEN IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT” = A WIDE RANGE OF HORIZONS.
VALUES SUCH AS FIDELITY, ONE’S WORD, FREEDOM, RESPECT FROM HER ORIGINS BUILD AROUND VALERIE A FAIR WORLD WHERE HIERARCHIES DO NOT EXIST. THE RESPECT OF THE FREEDOM OF THE OTHER WILL BECOME OVER THE YEARS A PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE.
–
GERARD GIVES A FRIEND THE BOX WITH A BIRD INSIDE. VALERIE LOVED THAT BOX VERY MUCH. VALERIE IS SAD.
HE EXPLAINS TO HER THAT HE HAD REACHED THE MAXIMUM PLEASURE WITH THIS OBJECT. THE CHILD WILL TAKE A FEW YEARS TO LIVE UP TO THIS KIND OF HERITAGE.
COCTEAU. IN A LOOP + CLOUZOT.
WESTERNS. THE GOOD, THE BAD. AND ALL THE STORIES OF MAGNIFICENT HOODLUMS .
–
SELF-TAUGHT IN GASTRONOMY BUT HER TALENT LACKS TECHNIQUE.
VALERIE WENT TO JOËL ROBUCHON’S KITCHEN WITHOUT ANY FORMAL DIPLOMA. SURPRISED BY HER NERVE, ROBLUCHON AGREED TO TEACH HER THE RUDIMENTS OF COOKING TECHNIQUES SO THAT SHE CAN OPTIMISE HER TALENT.
THE DOORS OPENED. LATER CHEFS SUCH AS ALAIN DUCASSE AND PIERRE HERME WELCOMED HER AND TURN IN PASS ON SOME OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE.
BOOK. ALWAYS AND FOREVER: BAUDELAIRE.
MUSIC. CHILDHOOD LULLED BY R&B AND BLUES. STAX AND MOTOWN HAVE NO SECRETS. AND THEN LOGICALLY, OF COURSE, FUNK.
GERARD PHILIPPE, GABIN, DELON WATCH OVER HER FREQUENTATIONS.
–
CALIFORNIA. AFTER STUDYING COMMUNICATION, SHE DECIDED TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES AND MORE PRECISELY TO THE WEST COAST. CALIFORNIA AT 18, AS AN AU PAIR, VALERIE TOOK ENGLISH CLASSES IN STANFORD WHILE GIVING GASTRONOMY CLASSES. SHE QUICKLY SET UP A CATERING SERVICE IN LOS ANGLES THAT OFFERS RECEPTIONS FOR PRIVATE AND PROFESSIONAL CLIENTS, ALL OF WHICH ARE ALREADY STAGED WITH PLANT & FLORAL-BASED DECORATION.
SHE REMAINS PERMEABLE. SHE MENTALLY PHOTOGRAPHS A WORLD THAT SHE WILL ALWAYS OBSERVE. BUT WHICH WILL NEVER BE HER OWN.
PRIVATE JOURNAL : I UNDERSTAND HOW MUCH ONE CAN BE ENRICHED – HUMANLY – BY EVERYTHING WITHOUT HAVING TO ADHERE TO IT.
IT WILL SERVE HER IN HER WORK AS A MODE OF REFLECTION.
–
SHE WORKS IN A COMMUNICATION AGENCY BUT THE SYSTEM DOES NOT SUIT HER. SHE JOINS A GRAPHIC DESIGN AGENCY BY DAY. BY NIGHT, VALERIE PREPARES PARISIAN PARTIES FOR PRIVATE CLIENTS AND NIGHTCLUBS. THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF FREELANCE WORK IN THE EVENT INDUSTRY.
–
JEAN CHRISTOPHE CAMUS. SAME MULTI-SENSORY OPENNESS. SAME ATTRACTION FOR ART IN ALL ITS FORMS.
FIRST OPEN DOOR TO BRAZIL. ITS MUSICIANS. ITS UNIVERSE. DISCOVERY OF «LA POSADA »
MEETING VATINE. STAN AND VINCE. THEY MAKE HER WANT TO ENTER THE WORLD OF COMICS. REFLECTION ON THE WAY THEY LOOK UPON WOMEN.
BOOK. FANTE. A STYLE. A UNIVERSE. A SENSE OF HUMOR. HIS SENSE OF HUMOR. PREDILECTION FOR MY STUPID DOG.
ROBUCHON = THE ART OF PRECISION AND CAULIFLOWER CREAM WITH CAVIAR.
–
TRAVEL ASIA. INDONESIA
DISCOVERY OF EXOTIC PLANTS IN REAL SIZE: BAMBOO FORESTS => WOODWORK, REED.
A LOT OF TIME SPENT WITH CRAFTSMEN TO LEARN THE AIR OF DETAIL. THE CARE OF RECEIVING.
PRIVATE JOURNAL: A PHRASE GLEANED: “YOUR PLEASURE IS OUR PLEASURE”
HER PHILOSOPHY OF GIVING IS REFINED.
CREATION OF “AQUATICS”
PLANT PURITY DROWNED IN GIANT VASES.
PENCHANT FOR SIMPLICITY, TRANSPARENCY.
ALWAYS THIS ATTENTION TO THE MAN’S LOOK UPON THE WOMAN’S BODY.
THE THINGS OF LIFE. PICCOLI’S LOOK UPON ROMY SCHNEIDER.
VINCENT, FRANÇOIS, PAUL AND THE OTHERS. THE GAZE OF MONTANT ON THE SAME ROMY.
–
HONG KONG
BETWEEN BLADE RUNNER AND MIDDLE AGES.
PRIVATE JOURNAL: I THOUGHT NEW YORK WENT VERY FAST. THIS CITY IS FASTER THAN THE SPEED OF SOUND.
TEMPLE STREET. RESTAURANTS LEFT AND RIGHT. TABLES IN A ROW IN THE MIDDLE. YOU SIT DOWN. YOU WALK AROUND -YOU ORDER FROM 10 RESTAURANTS IF FEEL LIKE IT – THE FOOD ARRIVES.
THAT’S THE CONCEPT. THAT’S OPENNESS. THAT’S CHOICE! I LOVE IT.”
–
CREATION OF HER EVENT PRODUCTION COMPANY: “VALERIE VAIS” WITH A FIRST COMPETITION ON PLANT AND FLORAL DECORATION FOR CHANEL.
VLAN. CHET BECKER. FIXATION ON ALMOST BLUE. NEED FOR JAZZ.
VALERIE FINALLY UNDERSTANDS MELVILLE. FINALLY. AND HER FAVOURITE JAZZMAN…
SOUTH AMERICA, BRAZIL + VENEZUELA
THE SHOCK GIVES WAY TO JOY. SHE IS “REASSURED”. SENSUALITY, LOVE OF THE UNDULATING BODY, DANCING IN TOTAL FREEDOM IS SOMETHING NORMAL.
IN FRANCE, SHE WAS EMBARRASSED BY THE WAY OTHERS LOOKED AT HER. DOES IT STILL BOTHER HER?
PRIVATE JOURNAL “SOUTH AMERICA. THE ONLY CONTINENT WHERE BODIES ARE NOT AT RIGHT ANGLES. THE KINGDOM OF HUMAN CURVES.
MMMMMH, DUCASSE MAKES HER LOVE OLIVE OIL.
FIRST LARGE DINNER SCENOGRAPHY.
WORK ON OBJECTS “TO BE STOLLEN”…
PEOPLE LOVE TO LEAVE WITH “PIECES OF MOMENTS”
IN TERMS OF LARCENY, THEY WILL BE SERVED.
VALERIE LINGERS ON THE CREATION OF THESE “MADELEINES”
ON FEBRUARY EVENING. “THE LOVERS” OF LOUIS MALLE. LOVE SCENE WHERE JEANNE MOREAU’S AND CLUTCHES THE SHEETS.
=> REFLECTION ON THE SYMBOLISM OF THE GESTURE. REDUCTION TO ITS SIMPLEST EXPRESSION OF THE FEELING=> CONDENSE TO THE MAXIMUM TO SHOW THE ESSENTIAL=> SUGGEST RATHER THAN SHOW.
THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR BY NORMAN JEWISON . THE CHESS GAME. THE RISE OF DESIRE. SUBLIME EROTICISM WITHOUT A SINGLE INCH OF SKIN.
CONFIRMATION : THE EMOTION IS IN THE SENSATION.
–
FIRST TRIP TO INDIA.
SHE WAS AFRAID TO GO THERE. FEAR OF BEING DISAPPOINTED BY A FALSE WESTERN IDEOLOGY = “PEACE AND LOVE – COOL ATTITUDE”
PRIVATE JOURNAL: I DID WELL TO GO.
FREE OBSERVATION. FEW JUDGMENTS. DISINTERESTEDNESS. BUT POSITIVE. PLEASURE TO OFFER WITHOUT EXPECTING ANYTHING IN RETURN.
“TRUE LOVE” WOULD SAY SAINT EXUPERY OF THIS ONE-WAY LOVE.
NEW SMELLS. NEW FLAVOURS. TASTE AND SMELL. SENSORS OF DEEPER REALITIES. THE WORK OF SILVER (MATTER). WOMEN IN SARI. THEIR BEAUTY.
«THE DEVIL’S HAND» OF JACQUES TOURNEUR. THE LIGHT. THE CONTRASTS. ALKAN, MR. ALKAN.
–
GLOUPS. FIRST GLASS OF CONDRIEU.
PRIVATE JOURNAL: AT LAST A WHITE THAT SPEAKS TO ME. JOYCE’S WORDS: “ WHITE WINE IS THE WINE OF SPARK.”
TRAVEL. LOS ROQUES (ARCHIPELAGO OF VENEZUELA).
VISUAL SHOCK + SHOCK OF COLOURS. NATURE. RAW.
PRIVATE JOURNAL: CERTAINTY: ONE DAY, I’LL BE A FILMMAKER.
–
COSTA RICA.
A NATURAL RESERVE.
PRIVATE JOURNAL. THE RAIN FOREST = THE THIN RED LINE BY TERRENCE MALICK. LESS THE WAR.
MASSIVE VEGETATION. LIGHTS THAT PIERCES BUT KNOWS HOW TO EMBRACE. MAGIC RAIN. WATER DOES NOT WET. IT CREATES MIRRORS.
SO THAT THE SKY CAN CONTEMPLATE ITSELF. UNLESS GOD ALSO THINKS HE IS NARCISSUS.
I GO HORSEBACK RIDING WITH A GUIDE WHO DOESN’T SPEAK. SEVERAL DAYS. IMMERSION IN DETAIL. I WANT TO STOP AND THINK ABOUT INFINITELY SMALL.
SQUAT.
A PART OF HER OFFICE IS TRANSFERRED TO THE GARDEN OF THE RODIN MUSEUM.
SHE TAKES IT EASY. OBSERVES. THROWS OUT IDEAS. LEAVES WITH THOSE SHE HAS DECIDED TO KEEP.
THE REQUIEMS. ALBINONI IN MIND.
–
FIRST CREATIONS OF “PLACE CONCEPTS”. SHOPS. RESTAURANTS.
CHATEAU LATOUR 61. TASTE BUDS ARRAY.
A REAL RETURN (SINCE HER CHILDHOOD) TO THE AFRICAN CONTINENT. NAMIBIA, BOSWANA, ZIMBABWE.
AFRICA NOT YET ESTIMATED.
STAY IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH BUSHMEN.
DEFINITELY, VALERIE’S BALANCE WILL ALWAYS BE MADE OF THE BALANCE BETWEEN MEGACITIES AND NOMANSLANDS.
WAKE UP ON A BOAT IN FRONT OF ABOU SIMBEL. TIME DOES NOT EXIST. LIGHTS. LIGHTS CAPABLE OF MAKING MAN EVEN BETTER.
MEETING A GROUP OF EGYPTIAN/SYRIAN FRIENDS.
SENSE OF HOSPITALITY. TEMPLES. STONES – VERY OLD- CARRY WEIGHT.
PRIVATE JOURNAL. NOTHING LIKE THE ACROPOLIS TOUR OF MY 10 YEARS.
DISCOVERY OF OILS. OF OINTMENTS.
PRIVATE JOURNAL. I FEEL LIKE A MOLECULE – SCALE RATIO. CERTAINTY. I LIKE THE IDEA OF CREATING ON A VERY LARGE SCALE. WHAT I CREATE MUST BE IN COHESION WITH WHAT SURROUNDS ME.
A BOOK. TANIZAKI. THE PRAISE OF THE SHADOW. HER APPRENTICESHIP OF LIGHT CONTINUES.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EYE/OBJECT, OBJECT/LIFE BECOMES CLEARER.
–
1 YEAR WORKING ON THE “MILLENNIUM” EVENING AT THE PLAZA ATHENEE
PRIVATE JOURNAL. CERTAINTY. ONE DAY I WILL CREATE A HOTEL.
–
ARMANI EXPOSITION AT THE GUGGENHEIM IN NEW YORK
THE SCENOGRAPHY TAKES ON A NEW MEANING.
–
COSTA RICA
SECOND TRIP. CIVILIZATION ADVANCES. WE HAVE TO MOVE FAST.
HOW WILL I GET TO SEE EVERYTHING BEFORE IT’S ALL GONE?
PRIVATE JOURNAL. CEZANNE ECHOES: “ YOU HAVE TO HURRY IF YOU WANT TO SEE SOMETHING BECAUSE THINGS ARE DISAPPEARING”.
THIS IS ALSO WHY I HAVE TO GO FAST.
I HAVE TO SOAK IT ALL UP BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS. SAVE IT WITH MY EYES. TO HOLD IT. TO CREATE MY OWN WORLD.
THAT WILL SPEAK TO OTHERS.
–
DIVING OFF THE COAST OF COLOMBIA.
“NARCOSIS” EFFECT = ATTRACTION FOR DEPTHS + THE PLEASURE OF FEELING ONE’S SOUL WITHOUT A BODY. WATER BECOMES AN ALLY.
OF MEN
JACK NICHOLSON. SEAN PENN. MAC QUEEN. VITTORIO GASMANN. BENICIO DEL TORRO.
–
LAUNCH OF FIRST OBJECT DESIGN CREATIONS UNDER THE BRAND NAME “VALERIE VAIS”.
–
INDIA. AGAIN. ON HORSEBACK. NEVER DOMINATION. THIS ANIMAL WILL ALWAYS BE THE STRONGEST. EXCHANGE. FREEDOM.
CONVERSATIONS WITH DURGA UNDER STARRY SKIES. “IF YOU ARE CHEATED ONCE, IT HAPPENS, WHOSE FAULT IS IT. IF YOU ARE CHEATED A SECOND TIME, IT’S PROBABLY YOUR FAULT”.
PILGRIMAGE.
MAEGHT FOUNDATION IN ST PAUL DE VENCE. AT LEAST ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS. THE LUNAR BIRD OF MIRO. THE FIGURES OF GIACOMETTI.VERTICAL. IN A HORIZONTAL LIGHT.
NEW YORK. TWICE A YEAR MINIMUM SINCE SHE WAS 18.
CONVERSATION. ME: “ITS BEEN 20 YEARS. THAT’S A LOT OF PICTURES.VALERIE”
I DON’T FEEL LIKE I’M GETTING OLDER. BUT ENRICHING MYSELF… IT MUST NOT BE ONLY AN IMPRESSION”. ME:” DON’T WORRY. TIME BEHAVES LIKE A GENTLEMAN WITH YOU”
EDELVAIS, 240 STRANDS OF PVC THAT REFLECT THE ONE WHO OWNS IT.
GALI, PURE, PLANT, VACUUM-PACKED = BOUQUET OF THE 21ST CENTURY. TINY LIVING OBJECT.
IT TOOK 15 YEARS.
THE CHILD SHE WAS HAS NO REASON TO BE ASHAMED OF THE WOMAN SHE HAS BECOME. I THINK THAT GERARD WOULD APPROVE.
…