SELECTIONS WAS INVITED TO DELVE DEEPER INTO THE WORLD OF ART COLLECTORS AND LOVERS FAIROUZ AND JEAN-PAUL VILLAIN. NOT ONLY WAS THEIR GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT UNPARALLELED TO ALL, THEIR HOME AND COLLECTION EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS.
Fairouz Villain and her husband Jean-Paul have been fervently collecting artwork ever since they got married. Jean Paul bought his first work at the age 21 from a French artist and has continued over the years until he met Fairouz, when this passion really started to take its rightful wings. They started in France with a focus on European artists but this shifted to Middle Easter artists with their move further East. They had a true passion for art and enjoyed choosing artwork mainly for their home.
Fairouz took a course in the « Ecole Des Beaux Arts » concerning antiques where she really developed her passion for antique furniture. In 1992, they moved to Abu Dhabi where she was to become one of the founding members of the Abu Dhabi Concert Committee. The focus was classical music and with her as a driving force, over 100 concerts have already taken place, with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed as chair, along her side. This brought about the famous Al Ain Music Festival, which has taken place every year since its foundation.
Villain’s hand extends outside of these respective regions as she holds a stage in Paris within « Les Amis du Centre Pompidou ». Besides her utter vibrance as a person, she brings to the patronship, the one of a kind musical influence that exists within the MENA region.
Moreover, Fairouz has found it important to give a chance to artists in exile, namely Syrian artists, to fully express themselves. For this reason, she has become a major patron of the « Association Portes Ourvertes sur l’Art» as well as various other foundations that put the artists first, that genuinely help the creatives of this earth to find supportive grounds and a means for a productive future.
Within their collection, Fairouz is highly enthusiastic about works, such as ones by Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Kazem, Najat Makki, Sheikha Al Mazrou, Ayman Baalbaki, Hussein Madi and Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim.
As to be expected, this remarkable woman has been seen for her achievements in the world and her zeal for artistic improvement globally.
For this she was awarded the « Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres » by Mr. Frederic Mitterand, Minister of Culture under President Sarkozy, for her contributions. For her to be « knighted » seems to be one out of many of her conquests. She is one to be hopeful and positive for the future and claims fervently to continue with her life mission, to propel and raise the arts while staying loyal to what works she has loved and will continue to love in the future.
