Amsterdam | Unseen photography fair and festival

In Amsterdam, the Unseen photography initiative presents Unseen Photo Fair (18-20 September), featuring 54 international galleries, and the Unseen Festival, a city-wide celebration of photography (18-27 September)

Unseen, the international photography fair and festival focused on new photography, will take place from the 18th to the 20th of September 2015 at Amsterdam’s Westergasfabriek. With 54 international galleries, Unseen Photo Fair highlights the most recent developments in contemporary photography by presenting emerging talent and unseen work by established artists. The on-site festival programme is a place for the exchange of dialogue, artistic expression and ideas, and includes lectures and debates, and a book market. Within the Unseen Photo Fair, you can check out some highlights from Asia, including the Gana Art gallery from Korea and a spotlight on participating galleries from Tokyo and the Netherlands focused on Japanese contemporary photography. New in 2015 is the Unseen Festival, a 10-day celebration of photography in the city centre. From the 18th to the 27th of September, Unseen brings together many of the city’s institutions, galleries, artists and initiatives using photography in unexpected, innovative and provocative ways in a programme that is sure to challenge, inspire and excite. Within the Festival, the programme consists of four different themes: Hidden Treasures, Open Doors, Cultural Institutions, and the Neighbourhood Project. The Hidden Treasures are a number of exclusive commissions and projects housed in a range of secret spots and unconventional spaces across the city, which will be opened exclusively for the visitors of Unseen. These include an exhibition at the newly renovated exhibition space of Amsterdam’s stock exchange, a film by Alexander Basile at the Stenen Hoofd, various installations at the Prinsengracht’s 19th Century hospital, exhibitions by Ola Lanko and Heikki Kaski at the former Citroën Garage, and the Korean exhibition Lies of Lies at the Huis met de Hoofden. A range of corporate and private collections, artist studios, hotels and other organisations are joining in on the festivities by opening their doors to the public. Collections include: an exhibition at the Herengracht office of the ING Bank, World Press Photo at the World Press Photo office, and many others. Additionally, a selection of artists will open their studios for the public.