Anna Planas

Anna Planas : 

Returning to the Grand Palais allowed us to offer a greater version of the fair, including new sectors like “Voices”, which provides a unique platform for three curators. Thanks to this sector, we get to explore photography through their eyes, tackling specific subjects and new domains. The public entrance to the Grand Palais also made it possible for us to present a unique work by August Sander, a monumental installation featuring over 600 prints, displayed for the first time in Europe. 

It also brings a new and smoother way for visitors to explore the space, and to place the “Emergence” section in the main passageway. As a result, we were able to accommodate 23 projects, instead of the previous 16, giving greater visibility to emerging photographers. Our arrival at the Grand Palais also sees the return of a collection to the Salon d’Honneur gathered from the collections of the BNF and the Centre Pompidou, which also features a selection of Lithuanian photographs.

Anna Planas : 

Indeed, this year marks the 100th anniversary of Surrealism, which is by the way the subject of a fascinating exhibition at the Centre Pompidou. As it turns out, Jim Jarmusch had been working on the restoration of a series of films by Man Ray, to be released in cinemas next week. He has a deep connection with surrealism, largely reflected in his work. He told us that, on his first trip to Paris, he followed the tracks suggested by André Breton, the so-called surrealist walks, to explore the city. We then asked him to pick images from the fair that echoed the essence of the movement. He curated a selection of images by representative artists like Man Ray and Dora Maar, but also by artists whose work is highly influenced by Surrealism. A total of 34 photographs make up this selection, which includes many black-and-white pictures and depictions of women.

Anna Planas : 

Our approach relied largely on scanning publications. The “Éditions” sector plays a major role in the task of spotting new talents since artists usually get their work published in a book before being represented by a gallery. Discoveries are also made through meetings, conversations, visiting other fairs and places where emerging artists are given more visibility, different countries, etc. We aim to find those up-and-coming artists so we can bring to Paris a solid proposal highlighting the most cutting-edge projects.

Anna Planas : 

There are plenty, ranging from visual to formal explorations, including an important focus on the body. The latter can be found in the work of artists like Lucile Boiron, who deals with skin and the representation of the body, both old and young. There’s an in-depth reflection at the core of her work, palpable both through the striking soft skin of a baby and the hands of an elderly woman. On the other side of the spectrum, there’s Camille Vivier’s work, presented by Madé Gallery, which takes a unique approach to the subject through very powerful representations of women.

Engagement towards topical issues is another major trend found in the work of many emerging artists. For instance, there’s Alice Pallot’s ecological commitment, whose work on green algae is presented by her Brussels-based gallery. Other artists experiment with the boundaries of the medium, such as Popel Coumou, who has done some work on decoupage. What’s interesting about his work, is that it takes on a completely different dimension when you see it on a screen as opposed to in real life.

Anna Planas : 

We have high expectations for this edition since it marks our return to the Grand Palais, a majestic venue that also increases our exhibition space, from 16.000m2 to 21.000m2. We have gathered many great galleries this year, both regulars and newcomers. For instance, Taka Ishii makes a return, while Mexican-based galleries RGR and Vermelho are participating for the first time.  

Currently, the art market is experiencing a setback due to the global economic situation. However, we have noticed that some major institutions, particularly from the United States, are present and actively purchasing. The MoMA and the Art Institute of Chicago come to mind. We also saw some exceptional sales from Howard Greenberg, Thomas Zander and Gagosian, as well as French galleries like Nathalie Obadia, which sold pieces by artists like Andres Serrano, Youssef Nabil and Valérie Belin. Similarly, there’s Maubert, who registers a sold-out of Nicolas Floc’h’s works. So we’re feeling fairly optimistic, the fair isn’t over yet.

Anna Planas : 

There’s no reason to be intimidated! Paris Photo is an art fair open to all. We want everyone to come and feel welcome. This year, we’re launching a new educational initiative, an area devoted to photography books for children. There’s also a fantastic programme of conversations, including one led by Jim Jarmusch, a tribute to Robert Frank’s centenary, and a debate on fashion, art, and publishing by artists like Tyler Michel, Centa Simon and Jack Davison. There is also the 15-minute format “Artists Talks” programme, where artists present their latest publications. They are all designed to encourage the public to come and discover the fair. Last but not least, there are the book signings, which take place in the “Éditeurs” section all week, with over 400 artists signing their works. So you can come to Paris Photo, buy a book, have it signed by the artist and meet them. The full programme is available online on the fair website and on-site.