The third edition of Paris Photo Los Angeles 2015 will take place at Paramount Pictures Studios from May 1-3rd and will host galleries and art book dealers from 17 countries world-wide.
Paris Photo is growing, and I know that you want to expand its scope, inviting galleries that are not dealing only with photography, such as 303 Gallery, Bob van Orsouw and Carlier | Gebauer. What is your mission?
Florence Bourgeois and Christoph Wiesner: More than 55% of the galleries participating at Paris Photo at the Grand Palais are not specialized in photography. This figure is up 10% from 2010. Our mission, quite clearly, is to present the best in the medium and to promote the world’s leading galleries.
The competition in Paris is very high, especially with FIAC becoming one of the leading art fairs, and yet you are able to attract exhibitors such as David Zwirner, Gagosian and Thaddaeus Ropac. What is the secret of Paris Photo?
Paris Photo has an extensive collector base, strong ties to institutions and a faithful public following that is not the same as other fairs. Quality remains of the utmost importance to us and to our partners who support us, from the construction of exhibitor booths to our public programming and VIP services. Our exhibitors recognize this and are excited to be a part of it.
Can you tell us a bit about the role of publishers? Is Paris Photo a fair that can reach different kinds of collectors? Is photography still an affordable medium?
The photo book has an undeniable role in the history of photography. It has allowed photographers to communicate on a mass level, attracting both novice and serious buyers perhaps more easily than other mediums. Often a gateway piece for collectors, early photographic acquisitions are at the root of many important collections. Historic and unique works from artists such as Richard Avedon or Man Ray have seduced veteran collectors and set record prices at our fairs. Emerging artists caught at the right moment can be just the right budget for budding collectors. Paris Photo and Paris Photo Los Angeles are the opportunity to discover the largest panorama of the best of the medium on the international circuit.
Can you summarize the difference between your Paris edition and your new edition in Los Angeles? Why Los Angeles?
Both Fairs are strategically placed. Paris Photo Los Angeles returns for its third edition May 1–3 in the heart of a burgeoning art scene at the crossroads between art and cinema in Hollywood at the iconic Paramount Pictures Studios. The setting lends itself to a wider presentation of media, which includes moving image, and the introduction of cutting-edge young talent while also responding to a hole in the art market trajectory connecting the Asian, South American and US markets.