Taking place from 15 to 18 August, Melbourne’s Centre for Contemporary Photography (CCP) is set to launch its inaugural CCP Photo Fair to celebrate the work of nine leading Australian photographers.
Presented by CCP, Melbourne’s most prominent venue for photo-based art, the boutique four-day event will showcase over 70 artworks from renowned Australian photographers. Traversing the commercial and art worlds, all exhibited works will be available for purchase. The fair will also include a curated program of events, panel discussions and book launches.
The CCP Photo Fair reflects the popularity of art fairs worldwide and responds to the growing trend of experience-based art. It will target the existing and growing photographic arts community, as well as extend to new audiences both locally and nationally.
CCP Director Adam Harding expressed his excitement for the CCP Photo Fair, saying that it offers a diverse and engaging program, allowing artists to share their work with the community. “The exhibiting photographers are at the forefront of shaping how we experience the design, food, spaces and experiences that shape Melbourne,” says Harding.
“The CCP Photo Fair will allow us to see what drives and inspires these image makers and the art practice that demands them to pick up their cameras. The upcoming fair will celebrate the breadth of photographic arts that is being produced today and offers a platform for artists to open up their work to a broader audience.”
“We are looking forward to welcoming the artists and visitors with a curated event that merges an art fair environment with photography,” adds Harding.
The nine selected artists taking part in the CCP Photo Fair are George Apostolidis – who brings with him the full power of his award-winning career as he looks back at key advertising images from the power lunch fueled 1980’s; as Kate Ballis transforms the patterns and textures found within the Palm Springs environment, to create images that, while being wholly grounded, feel otherworldly.
Anita Beaney reflects on moments of solitude and beauty with a romanticised film-based photographic practice; Tom Blachford explores the ability of the photographic medium to bridge our worlds transport us to a parallel future; while Jo Duck’s photography is a tongue-in-cheek exploration of what it means to be the ‘ultimate man’ in love.
The lucid landscapes of James Geer are both evidence and allegory, a portrait of changing dimensions with endless narrative potential; as Tom Ross’ photography finds visual harmony in the beautiful details and proportions of the world around us.
Isamu Sawa delicately photographs wilting flowers rescued from his wife’s floristry studio – these textural, large-scale images reflect on beauty, death and renewal; as Saskia Wilson draws our attention to global issues of displacement; privilege and freedom harnessed by a skilful use of light on the fringes of the Greek coast.
Established in 1986 by the photographic community as a not-for-profit exhibition and resource centre, CCP is presenting the CCP Photo Fair as a new initiative, which will expand photographic audiences while supporting its development and presentation of lens-based artists.
With works from emerging artists to some of Australia’s best-known names, the CCP Photo Fair features works priced from $1,000. Commission on artwork sales through the fair will go towards supporting CCP, where visitors can experience photography as both entertaining and thought provoking.
Centre For Contemporary Photography Photo Fair
Centre For Contemporary Photography, 404 George Street, Fitzroy
Exhibition dates: 15 – 18 August 2019
For more information, visit: www.ccp.org.au for details.
Image: Kate Ballis, Deepwell, 2018. Archival inkjet print on 100% cotton rag paper, Australian hardwood frame with an enamel finish, 103 x 153 cm. Edition of 8 + 2AP