Paris Photo | Nothing changes, for the better

Henri Robert

Nov 10 2022

Some things have changed on the Parisian art scene while others have remained the same. Paris Photo retains its position as the leading fair for the international photography market.

The 25th edition, which takes place from 10 to 23 November, has as its guest - exceptionally - the Spanish film icon Rossy de Palma. The latter has been offered the curatorship of a section of the event, bringing together 25 photographers, including Melissa Shook, Tahmineh Monzavi and Sandra Eleta, alongside some of the most famous names in the history of the discipline.

As for the state of mind of the gallery owners, Florencia Giordana Braun, Director of the ROLF ART gallery (Buenos Aires), is delighted with the current development of the photography market. "Even after the effects of the pandemic, Photography and video became fundamental expressions that circulated prominently in all media. And even its reception, legitimation and positioning in important institutions has become increasingly notable." The gallery owner, who is presenting a solo show by the Argentinean artist Adriana Lestido (b. 1955), whose black and white photographs capture "the timeless game of existence", portray the feminist cause, and the struggles that come with it.

Adriana Lestido, Madre e hija de Plaza de Mayo (1982) - Rolf Art

If we are to decipher the positive signals associated with the photography market, the last few days have seen the announcement of the creation of a new fair in the same segment - Photofairs New York, the first edition of which will be held from 8 to 10 September, during the Armory Show. All the while in Paris, the Quai de la photo, a floating art centre dedicated to contemporary photography, on the model of the one dedicated to urban art, Fluctuart, will be inaugurated next spring.

Marie Gomis-Trezise, founder of the Galerie Number 8, also notes a nice post-pandemic evolution. "And while the market may be saturated, particularly on Instagram, with somewhat repetitive works, demand has also evolved." The gallery owner, who is particularly pleased with the success of the photographer she represents, Djeneba Aduayom, is now exhibiting the work of David Uzochukwu, nominated in 2021 for the Prix Pictet, whose work was also shown in Arles. The photographer explores the possibilities the medium offers for reflection on social and environmental issues.