Unseen Festival is back this year with an extended programme celebrating photography in all its forms. From Japanese photographers and selfie lessons to boat rides and an exhibition by Anton Corbijn.
This festival is located in an area of Amsterdam called the Spaarndammerbuurt. For ten days this neighbourhood will be buzzing with an engaging programme including exhibitions and various activities.
The main location and base for Unseen Photo Festival is Museum Het Schip. Unseen will build on a theme that touches upon this special location and also follows a current trend in contemporary photography: craftsmanship. In addition to the special exhibition that will be presented here, there will be a Masterclass Collecting Photography, in cooperation with Foam.
During the festival Unseen presents the exhibition TOUCHED – Craftsmanship in Photography in Museum Het Schip. Curated by the internationally renowned Dutch photographer / film director Anton Corbijn, the exhibition displays excellent work from 12 international, mainly young, photographers.
Countless other special exhibitions and events have been organised at unique locations in the Spaarndammerbuurt and the rest of the city.
Flex Offense, 2016 © Christto & Andrew
SPAARNDAMMERBUURT AREA
The outdoor pool, the Brediusbad in Amsterdam, features Unseen’s campaign artists Christto & Andrew, who present a special exhibition called The Politics of Sport. Josilda da Conceição Gallery presents an exhibition of young contemporary Japanese photographers, in cooperation with Panasonic/LUMIX. There will be presentations and workshops around Do-It-Yourself-Photo-Zines in the OBA library, Artists’ Recipes in the neighbourhood restaurant Hembrug & Zaandammer, a selfie project with residents of a retirement home and teens; and much more.
ENTIRE CITY
The Unseen Photo Festival takes place throughout the whole of Amsterdam. In addition to a programme of activities at the heart of the festival in the Spaarndammerbuurt, a festival ticket gives free access or a discount for many cultural institutions that collaborate with Unseen. All of these institutions present special exhibitions showing contemporary photography: including the exhibition Celluloid in Eye Filmmuseum; the exhibition Horseday by Mohamed Bourouissa in the Stedelijk Museum; and the exhibition The Ultimate Sailor in The Scheepvaartmuseum.
Additionally, it’s often possible to take part in lectures, guided tours or other special events, such as music performances or film screenings related to the different exhibitions. A boat ride from The Scheepvaartmuseum to the Spaarndammerbuurt is one of those special activities. During the first weekend of the festival, visitors can have their portrait taken at Felix Meritis by master photographer Koos Breukel in Studio Aleppo. A photo studio and exhibition that acts as an homage to people who have seen their own living environment destroyed by violence and fled to Amsterdam.
Unseen Festival 16 - 25 Sept 2016 - Spaarndammerbuurt, Amsterdam
Unseen Photo Fair 23 - 25 Sept 2016 - Westergasfabriek, Amsterdam
More info: unseenamsterdam.com
Unseen was founded by Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, office for cultural business development Platform A, and Vandejong Creative Agency.