Photo London has announced that 87 of the world’s leading galleries will exhibit at the third edition of the international photographic fair. The event once again aims to showcase the best in contemporary photography to a growing audience of collectors and enthusiasts, and joining the line-up this year for the first time are some leading contemporary galleries including Victoria Miro, Sprüth Magers and Alison Jacques Gallery.
The brief to all galleries has been to showcase early photographic gems, new work by established masters and work that signals new directions in the development of the form, including moving image and virtual reality as well as high levels of technical experimentation.
The 87 participating galleries were selected by a curatorial committee led by Philippe Garner, former director at Christie’s. Represented are 17 different countries: Austria; Australia; Azerbaijan; Belgium; Canada, Chile, France; Germany; Iceland; Italy; Japan; Spain; Switzerland; Turkey; United Arab Emirates; UK and USA – and a vast body of work that ranges from the dawn of the medium to the leading edge of the digital age.
Large-scale exhibitions will be on show throughout Somerset House, combining still and moving images and new technologies. Isaac Julien will present a major work never before exhibited in London, while Magnum Photos contribute an exhibition of English documentary photographer and Magnum member David Hurn’s personal photography collection, which he compiled by swapping his work with other photographers. Curated by fellow Magnum member, Martin Parr, the exhibition is part of a year-long programme to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Magnum Photos.
New this year is an expanded Discovery section, showcasing emerging galleries, publishers and artists. The 2017 selection include Cob Gallery (London), BERG Contemporary (Reykjavík), EUQINOMprojects (San Francisco) and Rubber Factory (New York), and works by young artists including Asger Carlsen, Waheeda Malullah, Thomas Albdorf, and Laura Pannack.
Multidisciplinary artist Taryn Simon will be this year’s Photo London Master of Photography – an award given annually to a leading contemporary photographer. Guided by an interest in systems of categorisation and classification, Simon’s practice involves extensive research into the power and structure of secrecy and the precarious nature of survival. Photo London, in association with Gagosian, will present a special exhibition of her work at Somerset House, and Simon will also feature in the Fair’s Talks Programme, which is once again curated by distinguished author and curator William A. Ewing.
Photo London 2017, Somerset House, London, 18 – 21 May. www.photolondon.org #PhotoLondonFair17
Credits:
1. Thomas Joiron, Institution religieuse, salle commune, Chandernagor, Inde (2014). Courtesy Podbielski Contemporary.
