When it comes to sheer numbers of photos on show, Photo Schweiz surely offers the largest display of Swiss photography. Over 120 national and select international photographers present their work here on an annual basis. The event is located in five industrial warehouses in Zurich’s Maag-Areal, with a grand total of over 3500m2 of display surface. The event organisers claim to have attracted over 16,500 visitors in 2012.
All photographers working within the press, advertising and art industries can participate in Photo Schweiz. Both personal and commissioned works can be entered. The most important defining criteria is that the work was made, first published or completed in the year 2012. A curatorial board selects the participants on the basis of their entered works and portfolios.
Hence exhibitors include professionals as well as amateurs. The only selection criteria that counts is the exhibited piece, which, to put it lightly, takes some getting used to for the seasoned professional. The same can be said for the presentation of the works. They were displayed lying flat on Styrofoam surfaces (see GoSee video) – with ones displayed higher up proving challenging to view, even for the tallest of visitors, let alone the more petite public.
A star studded accompanying programme was held in 2013: René Burri, Bruce Gilden, Steve McCurry and Albert Watson were all won over as speakers. Check out the event’s website for the Ärzte ohne Grenzen charity photo film theme and the Off Programme.
About : It all started in 2005, around seven years ago, with photo05: photographers were given the opportunity to present their favourite photos of the year in the Maag EventHall warehouse space. The third review show - photo07, already managed to secure industry partners such as the Swiss professional photographers union for Zurich and Central Switzerland (Schweizer Berufsfotografenverband Sektion Zürich – Zentralschweiz). Photo09 saw the world premiere show of the 100 finalists of the «Hasselblad Master Award 2009» in a second special exhibition. The «Hasselblad Masters» have been a part of the programme ever since. Photo10 saw the launch of photoFORUM with speakers including James Nachtwey, Gary Knight, Juergen Teller and Brigitte Lacombe. Last year’s photo12 presented photos by 125 photographers and the talks by international photography stars attracted 16,500 visitors to the Maag Areal. Indeed, within the space of seven years, Photo has grown to become the largest work review of photography in Switzerland. Peter G. Kurath and Michel Pernet produce Photo Schweiz. Neomi Gamliel curated the 2013 show with Co-Curator Andreas Wilhelm, founder and CEO of stock and photographer agency
13 Photo AG.
photo Schweiz
4 - 8 January 2013
Maag Halle
Hardstrasse 219
8005 Zurich
