Unseen Interviews
Michael Hoppen on Collecting Photography
5 September 2012 Collecting Interviews London
A well-known gallerist and photography collector, Michael Hoppen of Michael Hoppen Gallery, began his career some thirty years ago as a photographer. After realizing he was better at buying photographs than taking them, he decided to sell all his cameras and convert part of his studio into a gallery, now situated over three floors in London, which will celebrate its twentieth birthday this year. We spoke to Michael Hoppen in Amsterdam, after the opening of the exhibition 'Compulsion of recent Foam Paul Huf Award winner Alex Prager (1979) at photography museum Foam.
How has the photographic landscape changed over the years?
Photos have become more and more important in our visually-driven culture. They are now widely accepted as a document, as an art form, they are an important social tool and promote a dialogue. Digital tools have made photography more accessible to the mainstream but most photographers I know still use film.
Marcus, 2005 © Toyin Ibidapo/Michael Hoppen Gallery
What makes a photograph and/or a photographer stand out for you?
A photograph has to surprise me. It’s that one image that allows you in, that’s recognizable yet allows you to discover new elements each time. For me, a great photographer ‘makes’ photographs instead of just ‘taking’ them. It’s the entire process from arranging the set, taking the picture, developing and printing that makes a good photographer.
You have both a private and a gallery collection, how do they differ from one another?
In fact, they don’t. I don’t sell anything in the gallery that I wouldn’t hang on my walls at home. We are very loyal to the photographers we feature in the gallery but it does make it hard sometimes. Some photographers constantly bombard us with new work but some only produce very little.
Crystal Girl no. 51, 2011 © Noé Sendas/Michael Hoppen Gallery
How did you get into collecting and which part of it do you enjoy most?
I started buying art thirty years ago. For me, it’s the thrill of the hunt. Searching for great photographs starts at fairs, markets, in peoples' homes or at dealer auctions. It’s very hard to find great works, especially now that everyone seems to be interested in photography. We count ourselves lucky to find one new talent a year for the gallery.
Are there any rules your photographers have to abide by? Do you prefer schooled over self-taught, for instance?
Not at all, some of the best photographers are self-taught, take Alex Prager. In my view, self-taught is best-taught. Now that everyone owns a camera, there is so much rough talent. It often needs to mature in order to create a good framework.
10:58am Bunker Hill, 2012 (Diptych) © Alex Prager/Michael Hoppen Gallery
What are your expectations of Unseen Photo Fair?
It’s great that the gallery can bring a different set of photographers than normal because this fair is so different. We will bring young talents which should thrive at Unseen as the fair is smaller.
Do you have any tips for budding collectors?
I’d say what everyone says: buy what you love. To me, the most important thing is reflecting your personality through your collection. Your collection reflects your soul and that’s something we should pay a bit more attention to.
We would like to thank Laura Farley, Clemency Cooke and Michael Hoppen for this interview. The Michael Hoppen Gallery will present work by photographers Lucas Foglia, Sohei Nishino, Alex Prager, Chloe Sells, Toyin Ibidapo and Noé Sendas at Unseen Photo Fair.
How has the photographic landscape changed over the years?
Photos have become more and more important in our visually-driven culture. They are now widely accepted as a document, as an art form, they are an important social tool and promote a dialogue. Digital tools have made photography more accessible to the mainstream but most photographers I know still use film.
Marcus, 2005 © Toyin Ibidapo/Michael Hoppen Gallery
What makes a photograph and/or a photographer stand out for you?
A photograph has to surprise me. It’s that one image that allows you in, that’s recognizable yet allows you to discover new elements each time. For me, a great photographer ‘makes’ photographs instead of just ‘taking’ them. It’s the entire process from arranging the set, taking the picture, developing and printing that makes a good photographer.
You have both a private and a gallery collection, how do they differ from one another?
In fact, they don’t. I don’t sell anything in the gallery that I wouldn’t hang on my walls at home. We are very loyal to the photographers we feature in the gallery but it does make it hard sometimes. Some photographers constantly bombard us with new work but some only produce very little.
Crystal Girl no. 51, 2011 © Noé Sendas/Michael Hoppen Gallery
How did you get into collecting and which part of it do you enjoy most?
I started buying art thirty years ago. For me, it’s the thrill of the hunt. Searching for great photographs starts at fairs, markets, in peoples' homes or at dealer auctions. It’s very hard to find great works, especially now that everyone seems to be interested in photography. We count ourselves lucky to find one new talent a year for the gallery.
Are there any rules your photographers have to abide by? Do you prefer schooled over self-taught, for instance?
Not at all, some of the best photographers are self-taught, take Alex Prager. In my view, self-taught is best-taught. Now that everyone owns a camera, there is so much rough talent. It often needs to mature in order to create a good framework.
10:58am Bunker Hill, 2012 (Diptych) © Alex Prager/Michael Hoppen Gallery
What are your expectations of Unseen Photo Fair?
It’s great that the gallery can bring a different set of photographers than normal because this fair is so different. We will bring young talents which should thrive at Unseen as the fair is smaller.
Do you have any tips for budding collectors?
I’d say what everyone says: buy what you love. To me, the most important thing is reflecting your personality through your collection. Your collection reflects your soul and that’s something we should pay a bit more attention to.
We would like to thank Laura Farley, Clemency Cooke and Michael Hoppen for this interview. The Michael Hoppen Gallery will present work by photographers Lucas Foglia, Sohei Nishino, Alex Prager, Chloe Sells, Toyin Ibidapo and Noé Sendas at Unseen Photo Fair.
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