Photo London kicked off over the weekend, with an exciting programme of exhibitions, talks, lectures, installations and screenings, as well, of course, as a whole host of photographs on display.
Over the weekend, Photo London filled the sprawling neoclassical courtyards and halls of Somerset House to the brim, for the second year running. Featuring world-class work from 85 galleries and in excess of 480 artists, this year's showcase was the largest of its kind ever to grace the capital.
The fair offered up a diverse range of international photography, with highlights including Ellen von Unwerth's iconic David Bowie and Kate Moss at Camera Work Gallery, and Adriana Lestido's Imprisoned Women series at Buenos Aires' Rolf Art gallery.
As well as highly popular displays from larger galleries (such as Aperture Foundation, Beetles+Huxley and Michael Hoppen), the fair was far from a big-name boast-fest, thanks to a healthy proportion of lesser-known, yet equally interesting challengers. We were particularly impressed by the vivid floral images of Yoshinori Mizutani's 'Sakura' series, as presented by Antwerp's IBASHO gallery, a space we've have had our eye on since this time last year.
The global nature of the participating galleries and their artists also impressed – from Sydney's Michael Reid gallery (which presented the beautiful portraits of Indigenous artist Christian Thompson), to Dewi Lewis Publishing, which looked to the streets of the Netherlands and Hans Eijkelboom for their enticing photo-book offering. Wherever the work was set, it burst from the walls of the often contrasting, ever-so-traditional backdrop of Somerset House.
Despite the sheer breadth and scale of the occasion, Photo London wasn't tiresome or overwhelming (as these fairs often can be) thanks to a series of well-chosen talks and events held at regular intervals throughout the weekend, including key speeches from artistic authority Edmund de Waal and satirical mastermind Martin Parr.
The fair's success cements London as a place where the phrase 'photo-opportunity' takes on a whole new meaning. What with the hefty 'Performing for the Camera' exhibition across the river at Tate Modern, and the wonderful Paul Strand retrospective at the V&A that runs until 3 July, London is a hive of photographic fervour of late. Even the ex-mayor of London approves of his beloved city's moment in the photographic spot-light. ‘At a time when so many of us are using our smartphones to capture images of the people and sights around us, we shouldn’t forget photography’s significance as a long-lasting art form,' Boris Johnson stated. 'There is an incredibly rich variety of photography, both historical and contemporary and it is wonderful to see London at the fore of international photo fairs.'
Featuring world-class work from 85 galleries and in excess of 480 artists, this year’s showcase was the largest of its kind ever to grace the capital. Pictured: Camera Work installation at the opening of Photo London.
The fair offered up a diverse range of international photography, with highlights including Ellen von Unwerth’s iconic David Bowie and Kate Moss at Camera Work Gallery.
Particularly haunting was Adriana Lestido’s Imprisoned Women series at Buenos Aires’ Rolf Art gallery.
END. Twins, by Eamonn Doyle, 2016, London
We were particularly impressed by the vivid floral images of Yoshinori Mizutani’s ’Sakura’ series, as presented by Antwerp’s IBASHO gallery. Pictured: Untitled, by Yoshinori Mizutani, 2015.
A display of Wolfgang Tillmans’ entire series of ’Anti Brexit campaign’ posters across the side of the Pavillion in the Edmond J Safra Fountain Court of Somerset House
London-based art duo Walter & Zoniel at the opening of Photo London 2016.
INFORMATION
Photo London ran from 19–22 May. For more information, visit the Photo London website
-
The Park: step inside Jeremy King's mid-century dinerOne of several 2024 openings from restauranteur, Jeremy King, food critic Ben McCormack books in at The Park
-
Six brilliant bars for your 2025 celebrations, hot off the Wallpaper* travel deskWallpaper’s most-read bar reviews of the year can't be wrong: here’s inspiration for your festive and new year plans, from a swanky Las Vegas lounge to a minimalist London drinking den
-
Misfires and Monstrosities: three vehicular design disasters that show taste is in retreatFrom a multi-million dollar piece merchandise to a wretched Rolls-Royce, these are the low points of the year in transportation design
-
Inside the distorted world of artist George RouyFrequently drawing comparisons with Francis Bacon, painter George Rouy is gaining peer points for his use of classic techniques to distort the human form
-
‘I'm endlessly fascinated by the nude’: Somaya Critchlow’s intimate and confident drawings are on show in London‘Triple Threat’ at Maximillian William gallery in London is British artist Somaya Critchlow’s first show dedicated solely to drawing
-
Surrealism as feminist resistance: artists against fascism in Leeds‘The Traumatic Surreal’ at the Henry Moore Institute, unpacks the generational trauma left by Nazism for postwar women
-
Looking forward to Tate Modern’s 25th anniversary partyFrom 9-12 May 2025, Tate Modern, one of London’s most adored art museums, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a lively weekend of festivities
-
Out of office: what the Wallpaper* editors have been doing this weekA week in the world of Wallpaper*. Here's how our editors have been entertaining themselves in the run up to Christmas
-
Love, melancholy and domesticity: Anna Calleja is a painter to watchAnna Calleja explores everyday themes in her exhibition, ‘One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night’, at Sim Smith, London
-
Ndayé Kouagou speaks the language of the chaotic social media influencer in LondonNdayé Kouagou celebrates meandering incoherence with an exhibition, ‘A Message for Everybody’, at Gathering in London
-
Out of office: what the Wallpaper* editors have been doing this weekA snowy Swiss Alpine sleepover, a design book fest in Milan, and a night with Steve Coogan in London – our editors' out-of-hours adventures this week
