AMSTERDAM.- Unseen, Amsterdam’s international photography fair and festival, returns with a focus on never before seen work, and an extensive festival programme celebrating photography in all its forms.
NEW TO UNSEEN: PREMIERES
Unseen introduces the Unseen Premieres, work that has not previously been shown in a gallery, institution or online. Unseen will mark the exclusive debut of this work. A leaflet will be distributed at the fair, indicating the premiering works and including statements of premiering artists. With the leaflet, visitors can tour the more than 60 premiering works spread amongst the 53 gallery stands, giving an overview of the newest of the new. During the late opening of the fair on Friday 19 September, the Unseen Premiere Presentations by exhibiting artists will provide visitors with an exclusive insight into the stories behind some of the works that make their debut at the fair this year.
UNSEEN CAMPAIGN TURNED INSTALLATION
Unseen revealed the first image of the 2014 campaign project in June, made by Italian photographer Lorenzo Vitturi (b. 1980, Venice). More than the traditional single image, the campaign visualises the various stages of Vitturi’s work process. At Unseen, Vitturi will translate the original sculpture into a large-scale installation on the festival grounds, concluding the inspiring collaboration between a multidisciplinary artist and a fair and festival embracing new photography.
EXCITING FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
The Unseen Living Room, an informal meeting place for the exchange of dialogue and ideas, packs an exciting programme of artist talks and round table and panel discussions from Thursday 18 September to Sunday 21 September. Confirmed speakers include Simon Baker (Curator of Photography and International Art, Tate, London), Matthew Leifheit (Photo Editor at Vice), Thomas Seelig (Curator at Fotomuseum Winterthur) and Hito Steyerl (artist and writer). The Unseen Book Market celebrates the independent publisher, beautiful books and their creators, with more than 60 publishers, including Mörel Books, Self Publish, Be Happy, Goliga and Rorhof, and a programme of performances, discussions and book launches. Visitors can also enjoy unique exhibitions, interactive installations and an array of hand-selected bars and food stands on the festival grounds. For more information about the extensive festival programme.
COLLECTING TIPS & TRICKS
Unseen encourages aspiring collectors to take their first steps towards collecting contemporary photography. The Unseen Collection comprises of around 70 works contributed by galleries participating at Unseen Photo Fair, for prices under €1,000. This exclusive collection will be on show on the festival grounds, accompanied by details about the works and more information about the art of collecting. With the Unseen Collection, Unseen hopes to reach a wider audience interested in contemporary photography. Those curious about making their first photography purchase are guided through the process.
INTRODUCING THE UNSEEN MAGAZINE
Unseen constantly strives to innovate and excite. By taking the standard art fair catalogue and elevating it to a magazine format, Unseen is able to offer genuine insight into the artists presented at the fair and focus on themes including new photography and the photography art market. Experts and commentators from the art photography arena have contributed to the magazine including Simon Bainbridge (British Journal of Photography), Francis Hodgson (Financial Times), Melanie Bühler (Lunch Bytes), Andy Adams (Flak Photo), Martin Jürgens (Conservator of Photographs at the Rijksmuseum), among many others. The inaugural edition of Unseen Magazine, the first international publication dedicated to new photography and the photography art market, will makes its debut at Unseen 2014.
Unseen Photo Fair brings together more than 50 galleries presenting new photography. This year’s edition promises to be especially exciting as Unseen presents more than 60 world premieres of photographic works that have never been seen before. The gallery stands are complemented by artist-run initiatives in the Unseen Niches, and the Unseen Collection, a unique collection of high- quality works for prices up to 1,000 Euros.
Several prestigious awards founded to foster the careers of emerging photographers will be presented at Unseen. These include the Outset | Unseen Exhibition Fund (a platform for emerging photography talent and young curators), the BankGiro Loterij Talent Collection (a collection of 16 photos by 8 promising Netherlands-based artists), the New Talent Photography Award (an initiative of ING Private Banking), and the launch of Foam Magazine’s annual Talent issue.
Celebrating photography in all its forms, the Unseen festival is a place for the exchange of dialogue, artistic expression, knowledge and ideas. The extensive programme includes exhibitions, a series of artist talks, round table and panel discussions with professionals in the field of contemporary photography, and presentations. The Unseen Book Market, a celebration of independent publishers, beautiful books and their creators, is an integral part of Unseen’s festivities and is the host of the Unseen Dummy Award exhibition, a preselection of dummies submitted to a call for unpublished photobooks. The winner of the 2014 Unseen Dummy Award will be announced at Unseen.
