Scribble

50 leading international galleries from 20 countries will exhibit at Photo Shanghai —

Andy Warhol offered David LaChappelle his first job as a photographer at Interview Magazine. Death by a Hamburger (2001) shown above, is an example of LaChappelle's surreal and often humorous aesthetic.

David Lachapelle/courtesy of staley-wise gallery new york

David Drebin, Dreams of Hong Kong, 2009 —

American photographer David Drebin often stages mysterious femme fatales against cinematic backdrops.

david drebin/courtesy of camera work beijing

Ormond Gigli, Girls in the Windows, 1960 —

American photographer Ormond Gigli's work during the 1950's graced the covers of Life, Time, and the Saturday Evening Post. His signature photograph, "Girls in the Windows" was shot in 1960. Gigli sought to immortalize a brownstone slated for demolition. He posed 43 women, including his own wife on the crumbling window sills.

ormond gigli/courtesy of staley wise gallery new york

Chen-chi Chang, Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, 2008 —

This photo appeared in Taiwan-born photographer Chien-Chi Chang's book Jet Lag -- a series of black and white images interpreting the odd space found between worlds and the subsequent feeling of disconnect, in travel.

chien-chi chang/courtesy of clair gallery, saint-paul-de-vence and munich

Nick Veasey, Lanvin Dress, 2011 —

Nick Veasey is a British photographer and filmmaker who creates spectral photos using x-ray imaging techniques.

nick veasey/courtesy of bluerider art taipei

Terry O'Neill, Brigitte Bardot, 1971 —

O'Neill's work photographing fashions, styles and celebrities, particularly during the 1960s, is widely-acclaimed. Shots like this one, of Brigitte Bardot smoking a cigar, have become iconic.

terry o'neil/courtesy of beetles huxley london

Giovanni Gastel, Untitled (Parrot), 2008 —

Italian photographer Giovanni Gastel has worked for major fashion publications. He's known to incorporate surreal and experimental imagery in his photos.

Giovanni Gastel/courtesy of Galerie photo 12 Paris

Chen Qiulin, The Empty City No. 4, 2012 —

Chen Qiulin is an up-and-coming Chinese artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans photography, performance, video, installation and sculpture. The Empty City is a work addressing the consequences of China's rapid urbanization.

chen qiulin

Boomoon, Naksan #920, 2014 —

The South Korean photographer captures desolate natural landscapes in his current series, Naksan. The large format photographs depict images of the sky, sea and land, all devoid of people.

boomoon/courtesy flowers gallery london new york

Christy Lee Rogers, Lightness of Being, 2012 —

Hawaii-born visual artist, Christy Lee Rogers photographs her subjects underwater. Fabric, colors, light, models, and movement work together to create images that resemble Baroque paintings.

christy lee rogers/courtesy of art labor shanghai

Julie Blackmon, Wicker Swing, 2008 —

American photographer Julie Blackmon's photos often address the theme of family dynamics. Blackmon's images are both fictional and auto-biographical, and her work often explores fantastic elements found in the seemingly mundane.

julie blackmon/courtesy of cipa gallery beijing

Vik Muniz, Crane, 2012 —

This photo was created by Brazilian visual artist and photographer Vik Muniz. He is known for making drawings out of unusual materials, which in the past have included chocolate syrup, diamonds and garbage. Muniz created this image by assembling hundreds of thousands of paper cranes made by children around the world to commemorate the victims of the 2011 Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami.

vik muniz/courtesy of matthew liu fine arts shanghai

Yang Fudong, The Light That I Feel 1, 2014 —

Yang Fudong is a moving-image artist from Beijing. "The Light That I feel 1" is a still capturing the soft light of a Norwegian summer.

yang fudong/courtesy of shanghart gallery shanghai

Elliott Erwitt, New York, 1999 —

Ellliott Erwitt is a prolific Russian-American documentary photographer. His images portray everyday subjects that are candidly caught in ironic or absurd moments.

\©Elliott Erwitt/Courtesy Magnum Phot

Erwin Olaf, Grief, Caroline Portrait, 2007 —

For his series Grief, photographer Erwin Olaf was heavily influenced by photos of John F. Kennedy and his family, as well as glamorous women in post-war America. In Grief, Olaf stages moments that show subjects enduring sorrow with graceful poise.

erwin olaf/courtesy md gallery shanghai paris

Hiroshi Yamazaki, Heliography 01,1978 —

Japanese photographer Hiroshi Yamazaki captures the sun, sea and horizon, using long-exposure photography.

Hiroshi Yamazaki/courtesy of emon photo gallery tokyo

Aku Lumi, Garden No. 14, 2013 —

Japanese artist Aki Lumi works in photography as well drawing and drafting. His Garden series is comprised of 100 works that represent his ideal garden. The photos are composite images of real and imaginary forests, jungles and plants.

aki lumi/courtesy vanguard gallery, shanghai

Rene Burri, Horse Pool and House by Luis Barragan, San Bristobal, Mexico, 1976 —

Swiss photographer Rene Burri captures Cuadra San Cristobal, an architectural masterpiece in light and form by Pritzker Prize-winning Mexican architect, Luis Barragan.

Willy Rizzo, Salvafor Dali, Loupes, Paris, 1949 —

This photo of Spanish surrealist painter Salvador Dali was shot by Italian photographer Willy Rizzo. Rizzo worked for the French publication, Paris Match and photographed celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, Gene Kelly, Pablo Picasso and Marilyn Monroe.

willy wizzo, salvador dali/courtesy of galerie dumonteil shanghai

'Death by a Hamburger' and other surreal splendors at Photo Shanghai

CNN —

A growing demand for high-end art among wealthy Chinese investors has resulted in a raft of new art fairs and auctions throughout the country – but it’s not only art that’s benefiting from China’s new found spending power.

This weekend, photo enthusiasts will flock to Photo Shanghai, the first international art fair dedicated to photography in the Asia-Pacific region.

Attendance at last year’s inaugural fair surprised its founder Scott Gray, CEO of the World Photography Organization. “We were at capacity. Over 25,000 people showed up and all major artworks were sold. It was very encouraging,” explains Gray.

According to Gray the fair’s breakout success might be attributed to photography’s easy accessibility, compared to the more exclusive world of fine art. “People enjoy photography; they digest it daily. You don’t need a course in art history to understand it.”

chen qiulin

The price point is also more accessible compared to traditional art fairs. Gray estimates that on average, photos at this year’s event will sell from $1000 to $9000 dollars, opening it up to middle class collectors.

The 2015 fair, which will be held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre, showcases work from a mix of emerging and established artists from the East and West.

It includes works by some of the world’s most famous photographers – think Terry O’Neill and David LaChappelle, and big name international galleries, such as Gagosian Gallery. Over 50 international galleries from 20 countries will participate.

Up-and-coming photographers, such as Chinese artist Chen Qiulin, whose nostalgic works wrestle with themes of China’s rapid urbanization, will also feature.

“We are anticipating a lot of Chinese collectors will come to buy photos from new Chinese artists,” Gray says, of the trend in purchases. “We have galleries from Los Angeles to Berlin to Beijing – there’s a wonderful variety.”

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Some of the world’s best (and strangest) photographs for sale at Photo Shanghai

'Death by a Hamburger' and other surreal splendors at Photo Shanghai