The Foundation

HISTORY

At the origin of the Villa Datris Foundation, the first thing was this irresistible attraction for the South, Provence, and especially L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and the Luberon, where Danièle Kapel-Marcovici and Tristan Fourtine would passionately seek anchorage and escape. At the same time, they had long been driven by an equally strong love of art, and particularly abstraction and sculpture in all its forms.

The idea of presenting contemporary sculpture through exhibitions created for the public began to gain ground… In 2010, the visit to a late 19^th century Provencal mansion, on the edge of the Sorgue, a providential location, was the catalyser that allowed the project to take shape, and Villa Datris was born. It takes its name from the alliance of the names Danièle and Tristan, sealing this exciting artistic project led by the duo, supported by a circle of friends.

In 2011, Villa Datris opened its doors to the public, in the form of a private art centre with the originality and vocation of promoting contemporary sculpture through the presentation of an annual themed exhibition.

Danièle Kapel-Marcovici and Tristan Fourtine
From the outset, sculpture was the natural choice for Danièle Kapel-Marcovici and Tristan Fourtine, who was an architect. Both were captivated by its volume, occupation of space, the delight of touching it and the many facets of the works that appear each time you contemplate them from a different angle. Tristan Fourtine left this world on 3 January 2013. Until the very end he put his energy into this shared adventure devoted to contemporary sculpture in all its forms, through the creations of emerging artists and those already recognised internationally. His architect’s eye and extreme sensitivity gave him an exceptional acuity for modern creation and sculpture in particular.

A magical setting in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, Vaucluse
A unique art space, Villa Datris is solely and entirely devoted to contemporary sculpture, inside and in the gardens. It is a setting that combines privacy and conviviality for the discovery of modern sculpture, with a total exhibition space of 500 sq. metres spread over four floors, completed by the path of sculptures presented in the gardens.

An open and lively location in rue Monte-Cristo, in the 20^th arrondissement of Paris
An address devoted to the Foundation’s Collection. Since it opened its doors in Paris in 2014, each year the Espace Monte-Cristo unveils the new works acquired by the Foundation through exhibitions accompanied by a carte blanche offered to an artist in a unique space, a setting of glass and steel with large volumes and two outdoor patios.

MISSIONS

The pace was set from the very first year and, since 2011, ten themed exhibitions have been presented.
Thus, Villa Datris succeeded in quickly making a name for itself far and wide thanks to its annual exhibitions, open from May to November with a clear desire to bring contemporary art within the reach of all publics. Patronage, which is at the heart of the Foundation’s cultural policy, allows it to offer free entry to the exhibitions, conferences and guided visits for groups, adults and schools, organised by a team dedicated to cultural mediation.

From the very beginning, the Villa Datris Foundation has functioned like a living museum, and each exhibition is a big event that attracts and enlarges its public. Currently, it welcomes some 50,000 visitors per year, and since its opening, over 350,000 visitors have been able to discover its exhibitions in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and Paris.
The determination to conserve the soul of the Provencal mansion in L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and to open its doors in a second address in Paris allows the Villa Datris Foundation to stand out by proposing the authenticity of a place of exchange and sharing, which contributes greatly to the cultural and artistic blossoming of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue and its region.