I rencontre interview I encounters interview I لقاءات مقابلة
Joint interview Olfa Terras Rambourg and Ridha Moumni
A unique project was born out of a personal encounter : the exhibition “ The awakening of a nation “ at the Palais Qsar Es-Said . On this occasion , we met Olfa Terras Rambourg and Ridha Moumni , two strong and passionate characters who managed to make this dream come true for all Tunisians .
LG : Tell us about your backgrounds .
OTR : I was born and grew up in Bizerte . Then I studied at the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Tunis where I got a master ’ s degree in banking management . Right after that , I went to London to work in finance , in the European derivatives markets . I lived in England for 15 years and now I live between Paris and Tunis . I have 5 kids and I went back to school a few years ago , at the Sorbonne , to obtain a diploma in public law . I now focus on the Foundation and its actions in Tunisia .
RM : After I graduated from high school , I studied art history and archaeology at Paris IV-Sorbonne University where I received my doctorate . Then , I was lucky enough to be selected as a resident at the Villa Medicis ( French Academy in Rome ), before I won a research award at the National Institute of art history in Paris and entered the CNRS at Aix-Marseille University for a postdoctoral position . After that I travelled and came back to Tunis to work on different projects and for more than a year , I have been entirely dedicated to “ The awakening of a nation “ exhibition .
LG : What are the words that best define you as a person ? OTR : Self-confident , optimistic , serious . RM : Curious , rigorous , honest and passionate .
LG : Tell us about the Rambourg Foundation .
OTR : The Rambourg Foundation was created by my husband Guillaume and myself in 2011 . Its mission is to enhance the value of education and promote art and culture in Tunisia . In my opinion , it is a way of serving the country , since education is the key to success in Tunisia . It gives hope to young artists .
RM : I can ’ t separate the Rambourg Foundation from its founders , Olfa and her husband Guillaume , whom I nowadays consider as friends . Their actions are good , they constantly care about the common good . It took a lot of courage and means to get started with this exhibition that presented many obstacles . I never felt that they were hesitating . On the contrary , I only sensed determination and firm will to achieve great actions leading to the wellbeing of each Tunisian . I have not met such generous and selfless people very often . Personally , the Foundation gave me the opportunity to work on this exciting exhibition and I will always be grateful for that .
LG : You have recently inaugurated “ The awakening of a nation “ at the Palais Qsar Es-Said , how did this initiative come about ?
OTR : This initiative was born from an encounter with Ridha Moumni , the exhibition ’ s commissioner , and from the discovery of the enchanting Palais Qsar Es-Said , an abandoned site with a hidden history that we wanted to make accessible to all Tunisians .
RM : It was born from my encounter with Olfa Rambourg who wished to create an important cultural event to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Independence .
LG : A few words to describe the exhibition . OTR : Unprecedented , moving , necessary .
RM : It ’ s an exhibition that combines art and history , during one of the richest and most complicated periods in the history of Tunisia . It ’ s an exhibition that presents exceptional archive pieces , such as the Constitution of 1861 , first constitution in the Arab and Muslim world , the Decree abolishing slavery ( 1846 ), the Fundamental Pact , but also unique art objects such as historical paintings , drawings , furniture , beautiful period costumes , weaponry and an unseen before Goblins wallpaper . It ’ s the opportunity to discover a Tunisian , European and Ottoman material culture of the 18th and 19th centuries .
LG : What means and aid were implemented in order to achieve this project ?
OTR : The Foundation has provided all financial and logistical means to carry out this project successfully in collaboration with the National Heritage Institute ( INP ) and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs . It is the first public-private partnership relating to this kind of heritage in Tunisia . We want to thank everyone from the INP and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs who collaborated on this project as well as our official partner , the STB , for its generous contribution and trust . We also want to thank lending institutions : the National Library , the National Archives , the Bardo Museum , the Lella Hadria Museum in Djerba and the Alcazar Library in Marseille . This project is proof that we are able , in Tunisia , to accomplish great things with men and women of good will .
RM : Important means were implemented to reach an objective of excellence . For the restoration of the paintings , we called on the services of the Arcanes company , responsible for the restoration of the Galerie des Glaces at the Château de Versailles and the Galerie d ’ Apollon at the Musée
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