The 18th century Neoclassical backdrop of Somerset House hosts Photo London while the inaugural Eye of the Collector will make itself at home at Two Temple Place (once known as Astor House) near Victoria Embankment.
Challenge met
Photo London has planned a dual physical and online element to ensure visitors from countries still under restrictions can take part.
The hybrid event is the sixth edition returning to Somerset House in London from September 9-12 while Photo London Digital (running on artsy.com and photolondon.org) runs from September 9-28 (with a preview day on September 8).
The enlarged event (accompanied by a public programme of events and exhibitions) includes 91 galleries from 17 countries.
Among the images on offer at Photo London fair will be Gianni Berengo Gardin’s 'The Venice Lido', 1958, priced £12,000 at dealership Prahlad Bubbar gallery, specialising in the arts of south Asia and 20th century art, photography and design.
Michael Benson and Fariba Farshad, founders of Photo London, said: “It will be the first physical photography fair anywhere in the world for at least 18 months.
“Without doubt, this edition of Photo London has been our most challenging yet. After three postponements and the constantly shifting situation regarding international travel we are thrilled that we will finally be able to go ahead with the fair at Somerset House.
“We have an amazing response from our audiences with ticket sales running at record levels and the second edition of Photo London Digital is also attracting a significant interest from those exhibitors who remain grounded for now.”
Among the exhibitors is dealership Messums which has recently launched a photography department.
To coincide with the event it has an exhibition of media executive David Kogan’s collection called Close Enough featuring photography by Robert Capa (1913-54). The exhibition will be held at Messums in London from September 8 then move to the gallery’s Wiltshire and Yorkshire venues.
The war photographer covered five different conflicts during his lifetime: the Spanish Civil War; the Sino- Japanese War; the Second World War; the 1948 Arab-Israeli War; and the first Indochina War.
The entire Kogan collection is for sale as a single entity, including Capa’s first ever camera; however the gallery has not disclosed the asking price.
Keep it real
Inside Two Temple Place, the former home of William Waldorf Astor, and the venue of the inaugural 'Eye of the Collector'.
Although an online version whetted the appetite of buyers, the inaugural Eye of the Collector (first planned for May 2020) is finally becoming reality as a real-life in-person affair.
The event (created by former Sotheby’s and Masterpiece director Nazy Vassegh) will host 30 exhibitors in the intimate environment of the former home of William Waldorf Astor.
The fair is designed to create the feeling that the objects and artworks for sale are in a collector’s home. The mix of works – from Contemporary, modern and ancient – are juxtaposed to emphasise how a range of collecting areas can be displayed together. Prices start from around £1000 for studio ceramics to £2m for paintings.
The fair kicks off with an invitation-only day on September 8 and opens to the public the following day, running until September 11.
Vassegh, founder and CEO of Eye of the Collector, describes the event as a “new type of art experience” as there are no booths or boundaries and instead a “boutique format” has been employed across the rooms of the neo-Gothic mansion.
Although this is a physical event there is an online element available for those who cannot make it – Christie’s will create an online platform showcasing highlights from the fair called Eye of the Collector X Christie’s to run alongside the physical event.
