Six Things to See at Copenhagen Photo Festival 2017

The Copenhagen Photo Festival runs 1 – 11 June this year. With 57 exhibitions and over 100 activities for adults and children alike, it is one of the most exciting festivals to hit the city. From parties to auctions to traditional exhibitions, there’s something for every kind of photography enthusiast, including the work of many Danish and international artists.

With such a huge program, where do you even begin? We’ve selected a few exhibitions and events to make it easy for you.

Here are our recommendations for this year’s Copenhagen Photo Festival:

Exhibitions

Photo City

The main exhibition hall for the festival, Photo City is housed in the industrial but beautiful transformer station in Østerbro. With showings from both Danish and international artists, Photo City is the spot to see all the best of the festival in one place, plus get access to talks and events. Photo City is also host to “The Censored Exhibition,” which explores contemporary photography trends through multiple artists.

Hannes Jung

Martin Errichiello & Filippo Menichetti

Understationen

Nyborgade 13
2100 København Ø
1 – 11 June

Opening Hours:
Every day 11:00 am – 6:00 pm

Herbarium

This one is for the plant lovers! This exhibition explores the intersection of botany and photography, bringing together a few photographers who work in unique styles, such as the German photographer’s Andreas Greiner’s close-ups of root systems. Poetic and scientific at the same time. This exhibition outlasts the festival, so don’t worry if you don’t get a chance to see it right away.

Fotografisk Center

Staldgade 16
3 June – 3 September
1699 København V

Opening hours:
Mon Closed
Tues, Weds & Fri 12:00 – 6:00 pm
Thurs 12:00 – 8:00 pm
Sat & Sun 12:00 – 4:00 pm

With or Without You

An emotionally-charged exhibition, “With or Without You” explores the last two decades of work from Danish photographer Jacob Aue Sobol, whose father died suddenly when he was 20 years old. It has now been 20 years since his death, and 20 years of art that Jacob’s father never got a chance to see. The exhibition is a tribute to Sobol’s father, the line between presence and absence, and to his own body of work.

Banja Rathnov Galleri & Kunsthandel

Kastelsvej 18
2 – 24 June
2100 København Ø

Opening Hours:
Sun – Tues Closed
Weds – Fri 12:00 – 5:30 pm
Sat 12:00 – 4:00 pm

Events

Opening Party

Start the festival out with a bang; good food, good drinks and good tunes from DJ Uffe. You’ll get a chance to see the exhibitions plus party all night (well, until 9 pm).

Understationen

Nyborgade 13
2100 København Ø
Thursday 1 June
5:00 – 9:00 pm

International Conference, “Where Photography Belongs”

An all-day conference that delves into the history and contemporary uses of photography, both aesthetically and politically. This is a wonderful opportunity for photographers, other creatives and those interested in any aspect of photography – from art photography to photojournalism. Speakers include Joanna Lowry, head of the Photography Master’s program and the Photography, Moving Image and Sound program at University of Brighton, and Daniel Rubinstein, Editor of Philosophy of Photograph and course leader of the Master’s of Photography at Central Saint Martins in London.

Karen Blixen Salen, The National Museum of Photography

The Royal Library
Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1
1221 København K
Thursday 8 June
10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Open House at Kasja Gullberg’s Home

World renown Swedish photographer Kasja Gullberg opens up her home to the public to showcase her work. It will be possible to buy prints and posters as well. Gullberg’s photography is painterly and haunting; images that will stick with you long after you leave the exhibition.

Straussvej 31, 1 TV
2450 København S
Sunday 4 June
2:00 pm – 6:00 pm

And if you’re looking to buy some art…

Photo Auction

Looking to start your art collection but don’t have a lot of money to spend? Why not support young and emerging artists from all over the world who have been featured at Photo City’s “Censored” exhibition? Auction house Bruun Rasmussen hosts the auction and we encourage all art-lovers to come out! Prices will be fair and the photography available will, of course, be excellent.