Yesterday at noon I left for the Grand Palais Éphémère to hang some pictures for a New York gallery. It was raining, but I arrived early and put on some summer music to counterbalance the ambient humidity.
Dear photography lovers, I would like to tell you from the outset that this is not a photography article in which I present the result of a series, but rather a report on the ins and outs of setting up an art fair. Since this one is about a photography fair and it's a must-see event, I thought it would be a good place to do it. I'm not a photographer by title, but I like images and capturing aesthetic or interesting moments... You only have to check my blog to realize that I take great care with my images, even though they are mostly captured on my phone.
The fair takes place over a week and yesterday was the first day of editing. I arrived early, had a coffee and had time to walk around the Champs de Mars and the Eiffel Tower, all in a foggy and soggy atmosphere...
After the reception and the security, I arrive in the bays and aisles of the different stands of the galleries from all over the world...
That day, I was supposed to hang for an American gallery with which I had already worked several years in a row. I won't necessarily give you their name, but I can tell you that they show 'vintage' photographs with old techniques (but which are still used). Daguerreotypes, photograms, cyanotypes and many more !
As it is the first day of assembly, most of the stands are still empty or there are only a few transport crates... but on others, everything is already assembled or in the process of being assembled.
Below is a detail of a framing system I particularly like. It is very simple, effective and sophisticated at the same time. By removing the two vertical pegs, you can dismantle the whole back of the frame to change the picture without having to screw it down... Clever, isn't it ?
Well, I set to work anyway. I don't want to boast, but as I have a background as a skilled craftsman (in wood and textiles) I get on with it quite quickly. I don't necessarily need to think too much. I'm almost in a meditative state when I work.
I took a short break and took the opportunity to have a look at the neighboring galleries on my way. As everything is being installed, you will understand that there were no labels and I cannot give you the references of the different photographic artists.
From that moment on I finished my day, 6 almost uninterrupted hours to hang 30 works of art alone... That's quite an achievement ! So I greet the gallery owners and wish them a good fair. I'll meet them again at the end of the show.
I'm taking advantage of being there to continue the report that I'm sharing with you here. I really liked some of the previews made on the floor as well as below...
Here, a rather beautiful cyanotype !
A collection of photographs listing the street lamps of Paris. I particularly like these series which show the diversity of things created or natural like the series of seeds by Karl Blossfeldt... Go and see it if you don't know it, it's worth the visit !
A daguerrotype of butterfly... Quite difficult to take a picture of because of the metallic surface !
I continue my little walk on the various stands. The progress of the installation is very variable...
A few final images as I make my way to the exit.
It is completely dark when I find the street and the École Militaire building opposite the Grand Palais Éphémère...
A little further along the avenue, the dome of the Invalides in the Parisian night, the moon and the nightly calm of a busy Sunday !
Faithful to its post, the Eiffel Tower projects its lights.
I hope you enjoyed this little report ! As I'm going back next Sunday, I might do a second one with probably more pictures in place and in lights :)
If you happen to be at the show, don't hesitate to let me know, it will be a pleasure to see you there !
Thank you for your visit and reading, have a nice week,
<3
Hier à midi, je suis parti pour le Grand Palais Éphémère pour accrocher des images pour une galerie. Il pleuvait, mais je suis arrivé en avance et je me suis mis un peu de musique estivale pour contrebalancer l'humidité ambiante.
Chers amoureux de la photographie, je tiens d'office à vous dire qu'il ne s'agit pas d'un article de photographie dans lequel je présente le résultat d'une série, mais plutôt un reportage sur les entrailles du montage d'une foire artistique. Comme celui-ci porte sur une foire spécialisée dans la photographie et que c'est un rendez-vous incontournable, je me suis dit que ce serait le bon endroit tout de même. Je n'ai pas pour titre "photographe" mais j'aime les images et capturer des moments esthétiques ou intéressants... Vous n'avez qu'à aller voir mon blog pour vous rendre compte que j'apporte un soin particulier à mes images, quand bien elles sont le plus souvent capturées au travers de mon téléphone.
La foire a lieu pendant une semaine et hier c'était le premier jour de montage. Arrivé en avance, j'ai pris un café et ai eu le temps de faire un petit tour dans les environs des Champs de Mars qui bordent la Tour Eiffel, le tout dans une ambiance brumeuse et détrempée...
Passé l'accueil et la sécurité, j'arrive dans les travées et les allées des différents stands des galeries du monde entier...
Ce jour-là, je suis sensé accrocher pour une galerie new-yorkaise avec laquelle j'ai déjà travaillé plusieurs années de suite. Je ne vous donnerais pas forcément leur nom, mais je peux en revanche vous dire qu'ils présentent des photographies 'vintages' avec des techniques anciennes (mais qui sont toujours utilisées). Daguerréotypes, photogrammes, cyanotypes et bien d'autres encore !
Comme c'est le premier jour de montage, la plupart des stands sont encore vides ou on n'y trouve que quelques caisses de transports... mais sur d'autres, tout est déjà monté ou en passe de l'être.
Ci-dessous, un détail d'un système d'encadrement que j'aime particulièrement. C'est très simple, efficace et sophistiqué à la fois. En retirant les deux taquets verticaux, on peut démonter tout l'arrière du cadre afin de changer la photo sans avoir de vissages à faire... Astucieux non ?
Bon, je me mets tout de même au travail. Je ne veux pas me vanter, mais comme j'ai une formation d'artisan qualifié (dans le bois et le textile) j'accroche avec une certaine rapidité. Je n'ai pas forcément besoin de trop réfléchir. Je suis presque dans un état méditatif lorsque je travaille.
Je fais une petite pause et en profite pour faire un petit tour dans les galeries voisines sur mon trajet. Comme tout en cours d'installation, vous comprendrez qu'il n'y avait même pas de labels et je ne peut pas vous donner les références des différents artistes photographes.
À partir de ce moment-là j'ai terminé ma journée, 6 heures presque ininterrompues pour accrocher seul une 30 d'oeuvres... C'est plutôt une belle avancée ! Je salue donc les galeristes et leur souhaite une bonne foire. Je les retrouverai au démontage.
Je profite d'être sur place pour continuer le reportage que je partage avec vous ici. J'ai beaucoup aimé certaines prévisualisations faites au sol comme en dessous...
Ici, un cyanotype assez beau !
Une collection de photographies répertoriant les lampadaires de Paris. J'aime particulièrement ces séries qui laisse voir la diversité des choses créées ou bien naturelles comme les séries de graines de Karl Blossfeldt... Allez voir si vous ne connaissez pas, ça vaut le détour !
Un daguerrotype de papillon... Assez difficile à prendre en photo du fait de la surface métallisée !
Je continue ma petite promenade sur les différents stands. L'avancée de l'installation est très variable...
Quelques dernières images alors que je suis en direction de la sortie.
Il fait complètement nuit lorsque je retrouve la rue et le bâtiment de l'École Militaire qui fait face à celui du Grand Palais Éphémère...
Un peu plus loin sur l'avenue, le dome des Invalides dans la nuit parisienne, la lune et le calme nocturne d'un dimanche bien actif !
Fidèle à son poste, la Tour Eiffel projette ses feux.
J'espère que vous aurez apprécié ce petit reportage ! Comme j'y retourne dimanche prochain, je pourrais vous en faire un second avec sans doute plus d'images bien en place et mises en lumières :)
Si par hasard vous vous trouvez sur le salon, n'hésitez pas à me le faire savoir, ce sera un plaisir de vous y croiser !
Je vous remercie pour votre visite et lecture, belle semaine à vous,
<3
Absolutely loving the art my man!!
Paris is nice but art is just... Jaw drop gazing!
Funnily enough me and @misshugo are going to an art exhibition tomorrow night😝😝😝 super stoked
Haha, I'm glad you enjoyed it !
It was a bit empty, but the goal was to show the atmosphere :)
Looking forward to seeing the exhibition from your side 🍀
There is one art display with 6 pieces if I remember correctly... Damned if I know which number of pic it is in the post. It has white frames... I found my self staring at it for like 2 minutes... And not at the artwork... At the lines.. They look so perfectly placed 😂😂
On a different note.. The Betty notified me after my comment, that the exhibition will be postponed until further notice, I think it might be because of the heavy rains we are experiencing now.... But hopefully not too long from now
Hehe, kinky you hahah :D
I hope it's only a postponement for the exhibition 🤞 !
Good day to you and see you soon :)
I do too... Well we've not heard a thing... YET. But I'm keen on going... We went earlier this year and there was an art piece that I really wanted.. Hoping that it's still there 😂🎨
Haa, I understand better, I also hope for you that it is still there 🤞🤞🤞 !
Enjoy your Sunday 🍀 and don't hesitate to mention if you're going :)
You definitely captured the atmosphere and a behind the scenes look into what it takes to set up such an event.
Thanks for your visit, it was still a bit empty yet. I hope to have a bit more material and pictures of photographs to show when I go to the dismantling on Sunday !
Have a nice day :D
Well, you took excellent photos and we don't care if people are pros here or not. Some of our best shots come from amateurs. Looking forward to seeing more. Maybe since you got a before post and will make an after post.... perhaps you can do a during post too. Have a great day!!!
Hi there @castleberry ✌️
I'm not surprised given the craze for photography these days!
For the article during, it will be complicated, but I hope to be able to do the dismantling one... and especially that there will be enough matter left :)
Take care 🌟
I love the 'bays and aisles of the different stands of the galleries, it's so beautiful.
I also love the collection of photographs listing the street lamps of Paris, I love Paris, it's a very nice place to be
It is indeed a special atmosphere, which has its charm, for sure !
As for Paris, I love it, but from now on I don't want to live there anymore, I only want to go there on holiday, for work or friends... For fifteen years I've been there, I've seen the evolution, and it's not necessarily going in the right direction...
Thanks for your input, take care !
That looks like an amazing exhibition. Some great works.
Thanks for taking us along on your work 🤓😎 very interesting.
I can imagine it is almost meditative when hanging up the works for you. After all the experience.
Have a wonderful Monday 👋🏻😊😘
I'm sure you would love this atmosphere :)
I love doing this job more and more, it may seem repetitive, but what job isn't, at least a little?
See you in a few days for the dismantling hehe ;-)
Enjoy your Thursday ✌️😘
Sometimes a job that seems repetitive isn’t that bad. And how can yours be. Always surrounded by great art 😎🤓 ok, most of the time hahaha 🤣
Will be there @anttn 😊
Thank you so much, enjoy your Thursday too 😘
Yeah, it would be a shame to complain :)
I hope you're doing well, may your Sunday be sunny ☀️ 😘
Thank you kindly dear @anttn 👋🏻😊
My day was soooo busy today.
But you know what, slowly all little puzzle pieces 🧩 are falling into place. And we will move next month 🤩🎉 finalising everything this week… yay
Exciting times and new beginning soon. 🤞🏻😎
Have the most wonderful Sunday, hope your Saturday was nice 😊😘
Haaa, that’s nice 😊 This is good news, I’m glad for both of you !
New direction and horizon, still a lot to learn and discover:) I can imagine that it must be busy on your side !!
Thanks you, have a good evening ✌🏼😘
Thank you so much @anttn we are happy. Finally after so long of waiting it is happening. And the new country will be just fine.
We are heading up wayyyyy north 😉 new directions new horizons. Indeed, we are never to old to learn and discover… let’s enjoy it all.
It is rather busy. And planning the logistics is a bit more complicated moving countries now.
But getting there. Hope to pick a mover in the next few days. Got many quotes. But the differences in price are just ridiculous. Hahaha lowest and highest are 5k apart 😐
You are so welcome. Good nitro my friend 😴😴 sleep well and have the most fantastic new week 😘