Leica partners with Photo London 2016
Iconic camera company to exhibit ‘Alex Webb: Selections’ – a vivid cultural documentary captured in vibrant colour street photography – at the second edition of the prestigious London photographic fair
Leica Camera AG today announced that it has become an Official Partner of the second annual Photo London fair, which takes place from 19-22 May 2016 at Somerset House, London.
As part of this special collaboration, which sees Leica partnering with Photo London for the first time, the company will present an outstanding body of international photography entitled ‘Alex Webb: Selections’, which incorporates a collection of powerful, intense colour street photographs by the renowned Magnum photographer, and has been personally chosen by Webb for the prestigious event. Spanning four decades, ‘Selections’ represents an assembly of some of Webb’s most notable and celebrated work, captured around the world on Leica M series cameras. The exhibition will take place in the Navy Board Room at Somerset House.
During the mid-1970s, Alex Webb worked in the South of the US, documenting small town life in black and white and began to explore Haiti and along the US Mexico border. As he worked more in the Caribbean and Mexico — places where, as he has said, vibrant colour seems almost embedded in the cultures — his response was to start photographing in colour, which he has continued to this day.
The photographs to be exhibited have been selected from three books published over the past seven years: The Suffering of Light, a survey of Webb’s colour work from 1979-2010; Violet Isle, the collaborative book on Cuba produced by Webb and his wife and creative partner, Rebecca Norris Webb, and La Calle, Webb’s forthcoming book of more than 30 years of photographs from Mexico, which will be released in Autumn 2016.
Alex Webb commented, “This work comes out of the singular obsession that I have had in my photographic life — working in intense vibrant colour, largely in the tropics. I am excited that this collection of images will be presented at Photo London, in conjunction with Leica.”
Photo London was created to give London an international photography event befitting the city’s status as a global cultural capital. Founded in 2015, it has already established itself as a world-class photography fair and as a catalyst for London’s dynamic photography community.
Karin Rehn-Kaufmann, Art Director & Chief Representative Leica Galleries International, said, “Leica is thrilled to become Associate Sponsor of Photo London this year, following its highly successful launch in 2015. Taking place in one of the most internationally esteemed cities, with its strong global appeal and cultural reputation, we consider Photo London a perfect fit with the Leica brand and its unique heritage. We’re also delighted to collaborate with Alex Webb, whose striking, highly-acclaimed colour street photography vividly captures the essence of diverse societies around the world.”
During the fair, a series of special appearances and book signing events will take place in the Leica lounge at the Navy Board Room, as follows:
- Saturday 21 May, 2.00pm: Distinguished photography historian and curator, Hans-Michael Koetzle, will make a personal appearance to sign copies of ‘Eyes Wide Open! 100 Years of Leica Photography’
- Saturday 21 May, 3.00pm: Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb will be signing their latest publications, The Suffering of Light, Memory City (co-authored with Rebecca Norris Webb) and Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb on Street Photography and the Poetic Image
- Sunday 22 May, 3.00pm: Alex Webb and Rebecca Norris Webb will be signing their latest publications, as above
Biography: Alex Webb (featured photographer)
Born in San Francisco, California, in 1952, Alex Webb became interested in photography during his high school years. He majored in history and literature at Harvard University, studying photography at the Carpenter Centre for the Visual Arts. Webb first joined Magnum Photos 40 years ago, becoming a full member in 1979. Best known for his vibrant and complex colour work, especially from Latin America and the Caribbean, Webb has published 14 books, and has exhibited at museums and galleries worldwide. His work is incorporated into the collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, and the Guggenheim Museum, NY, and his photography has appeared in the New York Times Magazine, National Geographic and many other significant international publications. Throughout the years, Webb has been honoured with numerous awards and grants including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 2007, and the Lucca Photo Festival Award in 2008.
About Photo London
From the capital’s major museums, to its auction houses, galleries large and small, right into the burgeoning creative communities in the East End and South London, Photo London harnesses the city’s outstanding creative talent and brings the world’s leading photographers, curators, exhibitors, dealers and the public to celebrate photography, the medium of our time. Photo London is produced by Candlestar, an internationally renowned cultural consultancy with an outstanding reputation within the field of photography and the arts.
