Behind the Lens at Photo London 2023
As the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House connects creativity and the arts with the broader public. It combines worlds and minds to intensify creativity and multiply opportunity, simultaneously driving artistic and social innovation.
Yesterday Photo London 2023 opened its doors to art professionals and lovers alike wishing to engage in the art of photography. Situated at the home of cultural innovators, Somerset House, the fair, now in its eighth year, is a pioneer within the field of photography. In this year’s edition, 110 exhibitors from 55 countries across the globe gathered to display works that touch on topics ranging from the social and political to the cinematic and the manufactured to the hyper-real. Just as quickly as it comes, with the click of a shutter, it is gone since it is only open until the 14th. Now, let’s look behind the lens of this year’s Photo London by exploring the timeless and iconic historical photographs on display.
Photo London 2023. Photo: Emily Males.
Buenos Aires-based gallery Rolf Art was undoubtedly a highlight. Although the subjects covered in the photographs are extensive and political, the booth’s careful curation creates a narrative that links them together.
It begins with a series of six photographs titled ‘Fire of Ideas’ by famed human rights photographer Marcelo Brodsky. They portray events from the year 1968, which was a crucial period of change for human rights and political movements in Argentina and, incidentally, across the globe. Notable events included the cultural revolution protest in Beijing, the King assassination riot in the United States, and the Europe-wide protests against Vietnam War. Consequently, these visually arresting photographs act as a springboard for the booth’s broader political narrative, which touches upon historical and contemporary political issues on a national and international scale.
Marcelo Brodsky, Fire of Ideas, installation view at Rolf Art. Photo: Sally He.
Next to Brodsky’s images is a photograph by Adriana Lestido that tells depicts a mother and daughter calling out the name of a missing person during the dictatorship on the Plaza de Mayo in Argentine. Situated in the centre of the wall, one cannot help but be drawn to it. Balanced by Brodsky’s images, the work shows the progression of human rights development achieved through the intimate depiction of facial expressions from the mother and daughter. Simultaneously, it strongly advocates the missionary progression in women's rights during the mid-twentieth century.
Across the space is a series of works by Santiago de Zuviria, the father of photography in Argentina, whose images are an equally subtle and compelling display of Argentinian political history. Comprising twenty photographs in total, the series depicts closed shop doors in Argentina’s high streets. Seemingly simplistic, the subject acts as a reminder of Argentina's financial crisis in 2001. As the frontal and striking curation of the black and white photographs sits quietly on the wall, the cold metal covering the shops' front door metaphorically mirrors the devastated aftershock of this terrible economic winter.
The power of photography not only lies in the hands of the photographer but also in its mesmerising energy and capacity to combine and connect people around the world. The Iconic Image Gallery (London) takes the visitor on a grand tour of fame and vanity. The series, The Art of Travel, celebrates the beautiful synergy between the art of photography and the art of travel with the work of artists who spent their lives on the move, pursuing the narratives and images that will go on define the culture and visuals of an increasingly connected world.
I MATTER. Courtesy: Photo London.
However, photography is not confined to the walls of Somerset House’s impressive historic building. In the courtyard is an engaging outdoor exhibition entitled "I MATTER". Presented by the long-term Photo London partner, CASE Art Fund,- an Illinois-based non-profit whose mission is to raise awareness about children's human rights through the support and exhibition of photography, the installation is a truly poignant display of equality through collective identity. Images of youths from many cultures were photographed holding "I MATTER" placards in their native languages wrapped around the pavilion. The ongoing project comprises photographs taken by parents, guardians, classmates, and photographers from all across the globe to illustrate the importance of children globally, regardless of race and gender.
Should one crave even more photography, there is a diverse list of public programmes accompanying Photo London’s main booth attractions. Of these, Joy Gregory's conversation with Alona Pardo was a standout. Gregory, currently editing a landmark book on Black women photographers in 1980s and 1990s Britain, joined Pardo to discuss the close ties that bind the two countries' Black photography communities. Within the broader spectrum of events, this conversation highlights new perspectives on the future development of the photography scene in London. Be sure to look at Photo London’s upcoming itinerary to avoid missing out on any future events.
Sally He at Rolf Art’s Photo London 2023 booth.
Photo London is a poised reminder of how photography is not just a single art form. It is more than a means to portray moments from the past to current audiences as seen through the eyes of a photographer. Instead, it is a poignant tool to document its subjects' personal lives and journeys. More importantly, it is a means to immortalise moments that are as relevant today as they were when captured. But most importantly, Photo London succeeds in uniting cultures together, connecting the present with the past and formulating a sustainable and lasting cycle of tracing history.
Photo London will continue until Sunday, 14 May. Book your tickets to visit the exhibition at Somerset House here. For more information about their public programme of events, see the link here.
Sally He
Interviews Co-Editor, MADE IN BED