Is Somerset House the worst possible exhibition space for a 'major' photography exhibition? Numerous small rooms, crowded, camped corridors (even mid-week when people should have been at work, cough). Stupid separate sections of the building, glass fibre pavilions, annex and mezzanine so you are constantly handing your ticket to be endlessly scanned by a single person at each entrance (the other person there is 'security'. Why they can't hold a scanner too is quite beyond me). So, the building is not fit for purpose.
What about the exhibits? Disappointing, too, to be frank. If you are starting out, it will be fantastic see all the usual suspects, perhaps for the first time in the flesh. But to a seasoned photo fair goer, it was a bit of a yawn. Multiple copies of the same snap, offered by different galleries, occasionally in almost adjacent rooms left me feeling distinctly underwhelmed. There were few photographers there I didn't recognise. Those I did recognise were represented by prints which will familiar to anyone who has ever glanced at a 'best of' book.
All bad, then? No. Hamiltons (who didn't exhibit last year) had an exceptional exhibition space. And if you like early work, Robert Hershkowitz had (his usual) exemplary offering. But other than that? Not much sticks out. Apart from the Rankin instant photo booth, the RANKOMAT. It's in the annex if you'd like to indulge yourself. Which I did. Rather extensively. It's free & fun.
I went to inaugural event last year and didn't like it. I put it down to not being 'in the mood'. This year only confirmed my grudge against the building and the unimaginative offerings. London deserves better. And so does the paying public at a punchy ticket price of £25 plus 'fees' of £2 and a further £1 for the privilege of me printing my own ticket on my own printer at home.
As you may have gathered by now, I think I'll give Photo London 2017 a miss. And judging by the comments from some of the dealers and and the lack of business being done (despite the crowds), so may some of the dealers.
