A 20-question interview with Nolan Browne, manager of London’s Taschen store and Gallery Nolan Browne
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Ambition.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
Rubbish in, rubbish out.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2016?
Homelessness and Donald Trump.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
A couple of people.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
I wouldn’t.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
Is there still a crisis?
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
‘Take care’.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I detest chuggers and I’m running the Royal Park Half Marathon in October for Shelter, who help the homeless.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
Don’t text while driving or cycling. Remarkable that people do it.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Woody Allen and Magritte and a billionaire, just to find out exactly how you get that rich.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
I doubt you could wander too far, so maybe a nice Harrods hamper in the prison yard.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
Anytime depending on the occasion.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A martini.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Arty ones – always full of characters and great chat.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Both of my sisters are very positive.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Thomas Pink shirts.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
No answer.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
Any kind of Ferrari.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
I was born in Bangkok.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
A wedding invitation and some art related postcards.
Nolan Browne is the manager of London’s TASCHEN Store and Gallery Nolan Browne. Travel and art are in his blood and he is the son of a diplomat and an art collector. Browne was born in Bangkok, grew up in New York, Somalia, Ukraine and Rwanda and went to school in the UK. While at university, he founded Unscene Art, a pop-up platform for emerging artists. It was dubbed “The student Turner Prize” by i-D magazine. Pitstops at White Cube and Phillips Auction House led him to TASCHEN – where he is fast turning the London store into one of the capital’s art destinations.
Follow him on Instagram at @nolanbrowne.
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