Interview with the founder of the Photo Popup Fair

Reading time: 5 minutes - October 18, 2019 - by Wolfgang Sohn

We interviewed Wolfgang Sohn, founder and creative director of the D?sseldorf Photo Popup Fair, and asked him what makes this year's exhibition, which will take place in D?sseldorf from November 8 to 17, 2019, so special.

This is the 6th edition, how has the event developed?

I am very satisfied. We have developed organically and improved every year in all areas. PHOTO POPUP FAIR has established itself as a trade fair for contemporary photography in D?sseldorf and beyond.

Which artists can we look forward to?

The big challenge every year is of course to improve quality, but also to show a wide range. I'm particularly looking forward to our special exhibition "Sport" this year, because we have one of the world's best sports photographers at the start: Bob Martin! During his career over the last thirty years, Bob has photographed every major sporting event. From the last fifteen Summer and Winter Olympics to Elephant Polo and horse racing on ice. His work has taken him to the far corners of the world and his photographs have appeared in numerous publications including Sports Illustrated, Time, Newsweek, Life Magazine, Stern, Paris Match, Bunte, L. Equipe, The Sunday Times and New York Times to name but a few.
During the 2012 London Olympics he was named Photo Chief.
Jens Koch has just been named one of the top 10 photographers in Germany in Stern. Still on tour with Rammstein, he can be seen at the #6 PHOTO POPUP FAIR in November.
We are also pleased to be able to show the actor and photographer Armin Rohde with his special photographic scenes.
In addition, we have a strong field of extraordinary, young and established photographers and photo artists at the start. For example, the photographer Josef Wilhelm, who will be represented with extraordinary photographs above the clouds, as well as Simone Mack, an academy graduate and daughter of Zero artist Heinz Mack.
We can present over 40 exhibitors and are particularly looking forward to each one, as the diversity of the event ultimately gives it its strength and charisma.

What special events will there be?

Yes, the live shoot, where visitors can immerse themselves in the scenery of a shoot or take part interactively, e.g. in the ArtPortraits by Helge Strauss. The total work of art "ART-PEOPLE" consists of a growing number of portraits created by the participants themselves. The idea of "be part of the art" has been realized by photo artist Helge Strauss in the ART-PEOPLE project. A digital camera, a flat screen as a mirror, a computer and a color printer form the technical equipment. The participant sees his picture on the monitor and freezes his personal moment with the remote control. The artist then creates an individual ARTPORTRAIT with specially created backgrounds.
The ART-PEOPLE installation has been staged in many places. It was launched at ART-Cologne 2001 and over 20,000 people from many parts of the world have taken part so far. The message of the endless work of art is: "Building bridges between different cultures. "
The star photographers Fabio Borquez from Argentina and Frank Dursthoff will also be shooting live. I always particularly look forward to our living room concerts; this time with Mario Hammer And The Lonely Robot on Thursday, 14.11.2019 at 20h Live. He creates a breathtaking cinematic soundscape that is both emotionally and musically intelligent.
Of course our popular ArtDinner and in the run-up to the #6 PHOTO POPUP FAIR we are organizing a panel discussion with some experts about photography in 2020 with Instagram etc.!

What fascinates you most about the event?

Year after year, I find the energy and creative power emanating from the event particularly special. The context of the many different artists and photographers who always get on very well and also a strong internal and external exchange that develops from this.

How do you see the interplay of the photography scene here?

The question is related to the one above; there are many sensitivities among photographers and also jealousies here and there. But then, when you interpret such a joint event, the cohesion is suddenly enormous. Beyond that, of course, I can't judge everything within the photography scene.