COLBO CHATS W/ OSCAR TINÉ

For the latest edition of Colbo Chats, we sat down with Sabai Sabai founder Oscar Tiné ahead of the nomadic shop’s pop-up at the store last weekend. 

The London-born, Paris-raised, NYC-based multidisciplinary artist-turned-collector sells “curated objects and tchotchkes” from around the world, collecting while traveling in regions ranging from thailand to morocco.

Leading off with a bit of a two part question: How did you get here, both in terms of your own career and interests, as well as the physical places in the world where you’ve sourced from so far?

Oscar: I definitely have to give credit to my parents. I was lucky enough to be taken to a lot of pretty places, to look at nice things and eat delicious food. Don’t think I would be the same person I am today if I had not been opened up to all these different cultures at such a young age. It definitely instilled a natural curiosity in me that has dictated a lot of things I do.

What do you look for in a piece? Would you say there’s a through line between the items you collect?

OT: The through line is: “Will I miss this item if it sells?” I really love all of these objects. I’m always sad to see them go. I guess It technically makes me not such a good salesman, but I also think that’s why there’s a cohesiveness despite the diversity of items.

How has your own artistic practice influenced your work as a collector?

OT: Being curious, observing and asking questions is always good. And not just examining the finished product but also the person making it, how it’s made, the tools and techniques they are using etc… 

I recently spent some time in Cambodia at Angkor Wat. I was watching restorers that happened to be working on one of the temples. They were bondaging some of the pillars with thick metal wire to control erosion. The contrast of the wire and the insane visual softness of Khmer carvings made the sandstone almost appear pillowy. This type of clash of textures and material is definitely something I recreate in my own work.

Do you have a favorite item that you couldn’t go without? If you were stranded on a deserted island for example? 

OT: Probably my cat. Not for sale though sorry guys.

What about a favorite deserted island?

OT: Not deserted but rarely visited, Bequia in the West Indies. I grew up spending a lot of time there and it just got hit hard by hurricane Beryl so go spend your money there!

Photo: Peter Sherno

Questions: Rowan Spencer