ART FAIRS:Paris Photo 2017,Part I
Paris Photo is the world’s largest Art Fair of photography, and is held annually since 1997 in the Grand Palais, Paris. The 21st edition of the Art Fair hosts 190 exhibitors (160 Galleries and 30 Publishers), from 30 different countries, presenting both historical and contemporary works. Renowned for its innovative and high-level programming, Paris Photo is a key event for collectors and art world professionals, as well as photography enthusiasts.
By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Paris Photo 2017 Archive
Four sectors make up Paris Photo 2017: The Main sector situated in the nave of the Grand Palais is composed of 151 galleries from 29 countries offering visitors a complete panorama of the photography from the 19th Century to today, in the sector are on presentation 21 solo shows. The PRISMES sector is dedicated to serial works, large formats, series, installation works and performance projects and is presented in the Salon d’Honneur on the upper floor. This year, PRISMES presentS 14 original creations including series by Henry Chalfant, Jungjin Lee and Tim Rautert, a performance by Peter Miller, special projects by Gilles Caron and Karlheinz Weinberger, and installations by Greg Crawford, Aurélie Petrel and Juergen Teller among others. The Book sector reunites 32 publishers and art book dealers from 8 countries. Also This year, Paris Photo is inaugurating a Films/Videos sector, exploring the new perspectives that images have to offer, in partnership with MK2. As guest of Honor for this 21st edition, Karl Lagerfeld created a journey of his personal favourites in the Fair among thousands of artworks on view entitled “Paris Photo by Karl Lagerfeld”. The highlights of the Solo shows are: a show of photographs by Sigmar Polke, including key pieces from his most important periods. Having earned an international reputation, mostly for his paintings, Polke’s photographs have long been somewhat overlooked, even though to the artist, his photographic practice was equally important. Like his paintings and drawings, his photographs feature his signature humour and nonsensical creativity, his critical views on politics and society, and his metaphysical investigations into alchemy. For Polke, the camera was an essential tool, like a pencil or a brush, and a retrospective of Vanessa Beecroft’s Photographic Work, that showcase an ensemble of Polaroids created by the artist between 1993 and the present day, which were shown as a solo exhibition at the Palazzo Reale in Milan (2016). Alongside the Polaroids, is on presentation a selection of the artist’s major photographs illustrating her performances. In the Duo Shows, “Color & Motion” presents photos by Ed van der Elsken and cinematographer Robby Müller. The show explores the relationship between light, camera, and photographer. What does their photographic eye register when they travel around the world, camera in hand, or when they experiment in private settings? On show are photos by Ed van der Elsken from his book “Love on the Left Bank” (1956), comprising photographs of his friends on the Left Bank of Seine in Paris, and enlarged prints of Polaroids by Robby Müller, who often takes Polaroids in moments in-between his work on set, as studies in light and composition. By selecting his personal favourites, the 2017 Guest Of Honour ,Karl Lagerfeld created a journey throughout the fair and the thousands of artworks on view, as well as a special edition book published. This is an original way for the public to contemplate the artworks exhibited by the gallerists and curators, while discovering the aesthetic universe of Karl Lagerfeld. Initiated in November 2012 by Aperture Foundation and Paris Photo, the PhotoBook Awards celebrate the photobook’s contribution to the evolving narrative of Photography. Paris Photo, Picto Foundation, and SNCF Gares & Connexions partner to launch Carte Blanche – Students 2017, a platform in promotion of the discovery and exposure of young talent within masters or bachelor programs in European schools for photography and the visual arts. Four student projects, selected by a jury, are presented in a large-format exhibition in Paris’ Gare du Nord train station (mid-Oct – Nov) and in a dedicated space at Paris Photo. Their work will also be highlighted in a round-table discussion on emerging art and the art market. The young artists are: Alexey Shlyk, George Selley, Leon Billerbeck and William Lakin.
Info: Paris Photo 2017, Grand Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris, Duration: 9-12/11/17, Days & Hours: Tue-Sat (9-11 Oct.) 12:00-20:00, Sun (12 Oct.) 12:00-19:00, Admission: Adults: 30€, Weekend Ticket: 32€, Bundle Ticket +Catalogue 2017:47€, Students: 15€, Free for children under 12, www.parisphoto.com
