London is never short of creative goings-on, but photography is set to enter the foreground this May with a double dose of activity during Photo London and London Gallery Weekend.
At Somerset House, Photo London (12 – 15 May 2022) is currently staging its seventh fair with 106 galleries hailing from 18 countries, several of which will devote their booths to supporting Ukraine.
Celebrating the past, present and future of photography, this year’s event involves a dynamic Discovery Section, spotlighting rising stars in the medium and beyond, an expansive talks programme, and an exhibition by this year’s Master of Photography, Nick Knight.
We’ve pulled together our highlights, both during the weekend and beyond. Pick up a free hard copy of the Wallpaper* guide to London photography exhibitions at Dover Street Market (available until Sunday 15 May).
Offprint London 2022
Tate Modern
13 – 15 May
Returning to Tate Modern’s Turbine Hall for its sixth edition, Offprint brings together international publishers for a near-overwhelming celebration of everything independent, experimental and socially-engaged across photography, architecture, design, humanities, and visual culture.
Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize
The Photographers’ Gallery
Until 12 Jun 2022
Spanning the personal and political, the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize will announce this year’s winner on 12 May. Nominees Anastasia Samoylova, Jo Ractliffe, Deana Lawson and Gilles Peress are a testament to contemporary photography’s ability to address the complexities of conflict and climate change head-on.
Jeff Wall
White Cube Mason’s Yard
Until 25 June 2022;
Andreas Gursky
White Cube Bermondsey
until 26 June 2022
With Jeff Wall at its Mason’s Yard gallery and Andreas Gursky in Bermondsey, White Cube is going all out when it comes to trailblazers of the photography world. While Wall is showing his recent ‘near documentary’ images, new photographs from Gursky focus on global capitalism and the ‘essential commonality’ of contemporary life.
Photo London Discovery Section
Somerset House
Until 15 May
Photo London’s Discovery section is known for signifying what’s next for photography through the lens of emerging galleries. This year, curated by Tim Clark, it includes ‘Photography Breaking Boundaries’, featuring sculptural works and an NFT presentation; artist duo Walter & Zoniel’s Rainbow Camera; and works from Hi-Noon gallery.
‘Gareth McConnell, The Brighter the Flowers, The Fiercer the Town’
Seen Fifteen
Until 11 June
Gareth McConnell‘s ongoing series The Brighter the Flowers, The Fiercer the Town draws from the photographer’s upbringing in Northern Ireland amidst The Troubles. Showing at Seen Fifteen as part of the Peckham 24 festival, the series is a visual assault of bursting colours and floral hallucinations, oscillating between everything from funeral processions to raves.
‘Lee Miller: Nurses’
The Fitzrovia Chapel
11 May – 5 June
Photojournalist, Surrealist, model, fashion photographer, and war correspondent – Lee Miller is nothing short of a 20th-century icon. A lesser-known, but no less remarkable facet of Miller’s career is her documentation of nursing in Europe during the Second World War, now on display at The Fitzrovia Chapel, curated by Hannah Watson. With potent connections to our current turbulent times, the images celebrate nurses’ essential work alongside moments of everyday life and tragedy.
‘Known and Strange: Photographs from the Collection’
V&A
Until 6 November
Featuring works from the V&A’s collection, ‘Known and Strange’ explores photography’s ability to transition from the familiar into the abstract, the ordinary into the otherworldly. The display includes impressive acquisitions from artists such as Paul Graham, Susan Meiselas, Dafna Talmor, Zanele Muholi and Tom Lovelace. Viewers are invited to challenge everyday assumptions and experience broader perspectives through both time and space.
Photo London talks
Somerset House
Until 15 May
In addition to the astounding number of works on show, this year’s Photo London will also present an impressive line-up of talks. Highlights include a discussion on Melanie Manchot’s performative practice; a conversation between artist Anastasia Samoylova and writer, curator, artist and educator David Campany; and the examination of questions such as whether Frank Horvat could be considered a feminist.
‘Space’ by Specular Assembly
The India Club
Until 15 May
On show at The India Club, a venue rich in cultural history, is a collaborative curation of works from the artist collective Specular Assembly with invited guest artists. Built around the notion of space, these site-specific installations range utilise photography, text, sculpture, installation, AI, collage, and video. The explorative interpretations have led to accidental chemistry between the works and their location.
Dover Street Market
Dover Street Market is celebrating Photo London in typically stylish fashion, with a series of installations and product launches. Highlights include a Cecilie Bahnsen campaign book by Takashi Homma,
a Jil Sander campaign book by Chris Rhodes, T-shirts by Raf Simons in collaboration with David Sims, and much more. §