On the fringe of Paris Photo many other events and shows devoted to photography are taking place.Highlights were” As Known As Africa” (AKAA), a fair of contemporary art and design from Africa at the Carreau du Temple, and the fifth edition of Fotofever at the Carrousel du Louvre.
Even though Paris Photo remains by far the main event in this month of November, those who have a huge appetite for images were very much inspired to go to the first edition of AKAA – As Known As Africa– devoted to the African art scene mixing photographs , paintings and design. An event on a human scale with 30 galleries that took full advantage of the space at the Carreau du Temple by adorning it with large hangings offering a warm welcome. Upon entry, the tone was set. The importance of the festival resided in the diversity of disciplines and approaches alternating internationally recognised artists and young talents, artistic works and reportage for those who are concerned with photography.Witnesses: the Moroccan-Londoner Hassan Hajjaj and his pictures at L’Atelier 21 (Casablanca)mixing photographs and objects that express so well the cultural diversity from which he himself comes. Still in Morocco, Gallery 127 (Marrakesh) presented a new series by Carolle Bénitah who continues to sew with golden thread on images of which, this time, she is the artist: a point of view repeated on the sea taken at different times on which she has embroidered object which at first appear mysterious, and which are in fact different tools used by obstetricians to give life. After “Photo Souvenirs” (book published by Kehrer this summer), Carolle Bénitah has pursued a personal and universal quest …A little further away, we found two solo shows: one that the School Galerie (Paris) devoted to Gilles Caron, mainly in black and white with a few images in colour, and one by James Barnor, a pioneer of colour photography in Ghana in the 1960s, at the Clémentine de la Ferronière gallery (Paris). Beautiful things ! And a positive result,according to the organisers, since the fair attracted 15,000 visitors and will give us Rendezvous again next year.
For its 5th edition, Fotofever created the event by renewing its staging with a clever plan offering 70 exhibitors the possibility of having a stand or an expanse of wall large enough to be able to express themselves. A wise choice; the visit to the fair was nicer. If we can only continue to deplore the unequal and eclectic character of the works shown, in spite of everything, a few solo shows had their effect and the visit was worth it: Nicolas henry at the Little Big Gallerie, Julien Mauve at the Intervalle gallery which was a great commercial success,Philippe Grollierat the Fisheye Gallery and above all, love at first sight for the series that Catherine Balet had produced with the Argentinian designer Ricardo Martinez Paz at the Galerie Thierry Bigaignon. He as model, she as photographer, they revisited 130 icons from the history of photography, from Man Ray to Nan Goldin, by way of August Sander and Erwin Blumenfeld. Next year for the sixth edition.
Sophie Bernard
Sophie Bernard is a Paris-based journalist specialising in photographyand was editor-in-chief of the magazine Images for 12 years.
