Paris - Over-the-Top?

Paris Photo 2024: Because No One Does Over-the-Top Like Paris

Ah, Paris! The city of love, lights, and… looming walls of unsmiling German faces. Yes, Paris has once again confirmed it is THE place for photography, showing us just how “grand” a photo event can be by transforming the newly renovated Grand Palais into an epicenter of photography-induced existential pondering.

First things first, no booths here—who even needs them? Instead, we’re treated to a wall—yes, one single enormous wall that stretches a modest 36.5 meters across and towers 3.5 meters high. And plastered on this massive canvas are 619 portraits of 20th-century Germans, straight from the lens of legendary photographer August Sander. Think of it as a giant Tinder lineup but exclusively for people who are no longer with us and absolutely devoid of any smiles. Sander’s “People of the 20th Century” is a sweeping portrait of a nation, sorted into archetypes like “the Artist” and “the Farmer,” leaving visito…

This ambitious collection, all 619 portraits in one place, is a first for Europe. So, if you’re up for an emotional roller coaster that’s both fascinating and a bit chilling, look no further. (And for those with a taste for the macabre, don’t miss the sidebar exhibition on post-mortem portraits—yes, you read that right—because why only look at the living when you could be admiring photos of the dearly departed?)

Of course, Paris Photo 2024 isn’t just about making you ponder the icy stares of strangers long gone. Oh no, it’s far more avant-garde than that. With 240 exhibitors bringing you everything from surrealism to the wonders of digital photography, this year’s event is a vibrant ode to photography in all its forms. Jim Jarmusch, the filmmaker, is here with his own surrealist curation to mark 100 years of the movement. So, while the Germans stare, you can dive into dreamscapes celebrating the absurd and the otherworldly.

Then there’s the “heartwarming” side of things. Paris Photo is exploring human connections with exhibits on friendship, intimacy, and body perception—because nothing says “deep dive into human bonds” quite like a colossal gallery full of stoic stares and eerie post-mortem shots.

And don’t think Paris Photo has forgotten the future photographers of tomorrow. There’s an interactive educational program for kids because, let’s face it, who doesn’t want their child to experience the joys of an exhibition curated by Jim Jarmusch and one dedicated to Robert Frank?

So, whether you’re here for the jaw-dropping wall of vintage German faces, the surrealist nostalgia, or the chance to rub elbows with photography’s big names at endless talks and signings, Paris Photo 2024 is ready to dazzle you. Just be prepared for a few existential crises and maybe a shiver or two.