Hello Monaco #09 Spring–Summer 2020 | Page 84

INTERVIEW SAFIA EL MALQUI, A PASSIONATE AND SAVVY COLLECTOR: «I DREAM OF A FOUNDATION» САФИЯ ЭЛЬ МАЛЬКИ, УВЛЕЧЕННЫЙ И ЗНАЮЩИЙ КОЛЛЕКЦИОНЕР: «Я МЕЧТАЮ О СОБСТВЕННОМ ФОНДЕ» INTERVIEW by Nicole Laffont and Olga Taran PHOTO by Jean Ronin Safia El Malqui Safia El Malqui has become a charming ambassador of the artmonte-carlo salon thanks to her meeting with artgenève’s director, Thomas Hug. These two art fairs share the same open spirit and rigorous quality standards. Five years later, she still remembers the artmonte-carlo’s first edition: «It was a little jewel ... It gave me thrills, making me invest myself in it body and soul». Сафия Эль Мальки опытный коллекционер и арт-патрон. Она стала очаровательным амбассадором салона artmonte-carlo благодаря встрече с директором artgenève Томасом Хагом. Обе арт-ярмарки отличаются духом открытости и строгими стандартами качества. Вот как Сафия вспоминает первый арт-салон artmonte-carlo, открывшийся пять лет назад: «Это было настоящее чудо... У меня просто мурашки бежали по коже, и я тут же решила полностью посвятить себя этому всему». My collection counts 780 pieces. Every two years I am replacing the art displayed in my frames. She is elegant and sporty, both in appearance and her ways. Safia El Malqui has organized some impressive exhibitions at her Sem’Art gallery in the Principality. Nowadays she is still a regular at art fairs, enriching her collections. We’ve met her on her way back from Milan just before a takeoff for Madrid. Her apartment overlooking the Principality and facing the Princely Rock is nothing short of a museum. HelloMonaco: What do you think of this art fair’s evolution which is now celebrating its 5th anniversary? Safia El Malqui: In spite of its success, we managed to maintain the quality that has been its absolute must from the very start. We have 82 / Hello Monaco Spring–Summer 2020 www.hellomonaco.com