Paris Photo Part II

© Laura Noble

Dearest readers, I have bad news, my other photos from Paris Photo have been destroyed by i-photo! So this is the last of them saved here. However, the next blog I will source the photography favourites to talk about.

© Laura Noble

So here is the amazing venue of the Grand Palais, what a place. It is so impressive I am still in awe of it. Unlike the previous venue it is easier to find your way around with helpful gallons to pinpoint your location for the inevitable meet-ups with friends & colleagues. 

©Anni Leppälä

Just before dark (girl with red ribbon), 2012

53 x 77 cm 

One of the first things to catch my eye was this lovely work by Anni Leppälä, of the Helsinki School. The ribbon reminded me of one of my favourite paintings by Ingres, see below:

Jean-August-Dominique Ingres  (1780 - 1867)
Comtesse d'Haussonville, 1845
oil on canvas
51 7/8 x 36 1/4 in. (131.8 x 92.1 cm) 

I interpreted this painting myself focusing on the ribbon, both in her hair & reflected in the mirror behind her.

© Laura Noble

Comtesse d'Haussonville 2m²

Oil on canvas

2 panels 1 x 2 meters

This is just the left panel, the work is 1 x 2 meters, as is the right hand panel not shown here & the same size, so the complete work is 2 x 2m.

© Laura Noble (detail)

Comtesse d'Haussonville 2m²

Oil on canvas

The ribbon is highly seductive for obvious reasons, however there are many theories about the use of red in art which are worth further discussion. 

©Gerhard Richter

Betty

Oil on canvas

102 x 72 cm

The other obvious correlation was with Gerhard Richter, notably this work. I do prefer Ingres though as his sitter is a young female with a strong character, direct & confident. I also am not a huge fan of photorealist painting. If you want a photo, take a picture! (Ooh have I gone too far here?) Maybe Leppälä is influenced by both, with the patterned jumper & red ribbon...

Perhaps the art world (& its clients) prefers their women submissive? Discuss...

© Laura Noble

So after a wonderful few days, lots of parties, openings & a L A Noble Gallery party at the apartment (thanks to those who came, it was emotional) my last evening in Paris was spent with two wonderful photographer's Øyvind Hjelmen & Helén Petersen in a charming place for duck leg & chips as only the French can make. (All cooked on the little grill behind our amazing owner/waiter/entertainer pictured below) The drop ceiling was in the  classic Parisian style, much like the 'Amelie' cafe last year. 

© Laura Noble

Although the food was average, the evening was top notch & the first chance to try & wind down from another crazy Paris Photo. Loved his braces, why don't more people wear them anymore? So much nicer than belts I say... 

© Laura Noble

Again the red was prevelant in my choice of photographic subject, telling...

© Laura Noble

The view from outside was pretty special too! Nice to have such a place a minute away. 

© Laura Noble

Øyvind Hjelmen & Helén Petersen

Such civilised characters, (don't be deceived we are all unhinged on the inside) have a nice glass (or two) it was a shame to go back & pack. 

© Laura Noble

So for one last peek, my favourite picture of the whole week through the peep hole in the apartment door. I will find some more pictures if I can salvage files of the party as well as the amazing deli owner who provided the catering for the party at the apartment & helped carry all the produce up 3 flights of stairs along with 2 neighbours who dropped by. Who say Parisian's aren't friendly! 

Paris Photo Part I

I arrive in Paris at night & before entering the apartment take a picture of the courtyard looking up into the night sky, a lovely sight...

The next day, Wednesday is the opening day of Paris Photo 2012. A crisp November afternoon we approach the Grand Palais. Pictures of the almighty are on display for all to see, David Lynch need only show his hair to be recognised in an instant. 

A very short film of the wheel, so lovely.

All the photo's & video here on the blog are taken with my phone by the way, so don't expect miracles...I am but a mere painter after all...who wears silly jumpers...

So, back to PP (for short) & most of the opening afternoon was spent bumping into oodles of people & seeing very little photography to be quite honest. However, that is half the fun. The website had launched the day before, so word was out on the photographic grapevine for those who had missed the Unseen fair. 

Amongst the fabulous people the wonderful Vee Speers, whose work I bought many years ago & has since become a very good friend. She lives in Paris & as luck would have it just minutes away from the apartment I was staying in. Here she is with the lovely David Fahey from L A. 

Up in the VIP lounge Fariba & myself compare shoe sizes, her a 3, me a 7 1/2, am I big or is she small? Who cares, nice picture, good purple floor! Both 'on trend' ? I have no idea.

So the time had come to leave & head out to Vee's for her traditional dinner party. Needless to say it was fantastic, thanks Vee. The fact there there are no pictures of this event goes to show how much fun everyone was having. By the way the picture above is taken for Emily Allchurch, for those who know her work you will understand. For those who don't, see this link. 

Thursday now & after a very late start recovering from the night before I headed into the fair. As before more friends to bump into including Bruce Davidson & his wife Emily. A lovely hour was spent talking about relatives & their achievements this year including a book by Emily about one the bikers in the Brooklyn gang that Bruce photographed many years ago. 1959 in fact, wow that was a  long time ago. Let's not dwell on that, the work is a fabulous that's enough in my books.

So here is Bruce & yours truly discussing the book & life of 'Bobby' or Bob Powers as told to Emily. 

Here is the cover & info if you want to buy it. It's on my Christmas list! Can't wait to read it.

So wandering back home we passed a lovely Hotel with blooming flowers in every window box, real or fake who cares, they look great! 

Then time for a quick change before attending the Prix Pictet Prize show at Gallerie Vanessa Quang. Dinner followed then another late night. So to bed with more about Paris Photo in my next blog & the photographs that I loved to come...

A Perfect Paris Photo 2011???

Ladies & gentlemen, presenting the Star of the fair....

'Christian Tagliavini'

Don't take my word for it, see Wayne Ford's opinion here!

Don't forget to 'Cut Out & Keep' all the numerous articles, including Télérama & Le Figaro magazines. If you have any enquiries about his work please contact the gallery. 

Series: Dame di Cartone, Cubism II

©Christian Tagliavini

For those of you not on our mailing list we will be sending out more information on the limited edition portfolios of 1503 & Dame di Cartone & our forthcoming Collecting course amongst any other news.

It has been a big weekend for photography as well as Paris Photo, including the huge record breaking sale of Andreas Gursky's Rhine II photograph selling for $4.3 million at a Christies auction in New York. See the Guardian's coverage for a giggle.

My trip began with a visit to Sotheby's for a few glasses of champagne whilst viewing the work on display before heading to a party hosted by the wonderful Chantal Sanglier. Calling at one of my favourite places in Paris to pick up some macaroons to take to the party. Ladurée was as usual full of patient customers queuing (at 7.30pm) for their famous culinary delights. It is a lovely store that is well worth a visit. 

  

I even had time to take some blog pictures whilst I waited with my good friend Silvia. 

These are the cakes that got away... or not. They do say that you 'eat with your eyes' after all.

That night the Eiffel Tower was more beautiful than ever, with the top submerged in the clouds & a misty night completed the romantic spectacle.

I couldn't help but go outside & peek at it several times during the course of the evening.

One of the other guest insisted that she take a photo (with my phone) of me to remember the moment.

I'm so glad she did as this is the result!

Spooky, but it expresses how I felt perfectly blissful...

With such stunning views of the Eiffel Tower, you would have felt the same.

(Mary, this one's for you) 

So then Friday rolled around, with a bright brisk, sunny day to lift the spirits. Once breakfast had been consumed it was time to head off to the fair. 

Paris Photo 2011 has now moved from the Carousel to the Grand Palais. To get an idea of the size of the place watch the video on this link. I much prefer the space, with more room & much easier to navigate. (Make sure you eat well before going though as there aren't masses of eats to choose from.) 

A view from the top

Having a roof of glass also has it's obvious problems, with UV light flooding in (albeit from a great height) some galleries did take the necessary precautions. 

In this poor photograph you can just about see a wonderful bit of curation in the JP Morgan "Collection Privée". On the left are Bernd & Hilla Becher's Gas Tanks, then to the right J.D. Okhai Ojeikere's hairstyles. (A grid of Blossfeldt's work would have been a wonderful hat trick) 

© Bernd & Hilla Becher

Gas Tanks (spheric), 1963 - 1983

9 black & white photographs

© J.D. Okhai Ojeikere

9 Gelatin-silver prints

60 x 50 cm each

Untitled, 1970 - 1979

Georges Rousse

Another highlight was seeing the latest work from a photographer I have long admired, Georges Rousse. He has inverted his own technique. I think a blog dedicated to him alone is in order at some point in the near future... 

Of course there was a Japanese photographer whose work made an impression, Miyako Ishiuchi. I couldn't find my favourite image online, but here is an installation shot from the Third Gallery stand. 

Miyako Ishiuchi

It is hard to avoid mentioning Irving Penn with works like this on display:

Irving Penn

14 Cigarettes

1990

The print is exquisite & the strength is in its simplicity, with every detail beautifully rendered.  

Erich Mirozek

This beautiful photo montage was another favourite with a red spot, so alas this is where the info on the photographer ends as I have not found anything else about them online. If any of you out there know of their work please post a comment. The Guillermo de Osmo gallery based in Madrid who sold the work was a new one to me, but an interesting find nonetheless.

Here is all the info from the label I have

Saturday morning I spent doing reviews at the Nofound Photofair. A very enjoyable start to the day, before an amazing lunch with Mark from Genesis Imaging, photography agent David Birkitt & others at the best place in town (I keep my lips sealed on this one or I will never get a table next year). 

The parties continued Saturday night. This was a very French affair with friends old & new in attendance. 

As usual the work came out, with many discussions & of course plenty of wine & fabulous food!

I had arrived with the artist Lisa Creagh, staying late then onto a newfound friends apartment to see her fabulous work & stunning jazz archive. (More about this in the future I am sure)

Then after going to bed at 6am breakfast & a lovely sunny morning greeted me. It was sad to leave Paris on such a gorgeous day...

However, it does encourage you to go back before too long.

Where else could a view like this be had. The architecture is thrilling & even better in the sun.

If only we had wide avenues like this to enjoy every day. Till then I must be content with photos...