Once again, Roy Kahmann has made headlines and stirred the Dutch, if not international, photography scene with his first Hungry Eye Fair in Amsterdam. More than a simple rebranding of his high-quality Haute Photographie exhibitions, this feels like a new beginning: a much larger space, over 70 artists, and five days of high quality photography gathered under one roof.
But why the enigmatic title, echoing Erich Maria Remarque’s book? Perhaps because of the impressive presence of artists from Eastern Europe at this first edition, every one of them women. Among them, familiar trusted names: Anna Riabova with her marvelous, enchanting natures mortes, and Inna Oleff, whose delicate photographs of backlit poppies I found particularly moving.
They were joined by a new discovery for me, their friend Anna Glazounova. Her work carries a deep sensitivity, depicting the absence of human presence in the spaces she photographs: stunning images that resonated strongly with my own sensibilities. Our conversation only deepened that connection, a reminder that art allows people to communicate beyond words and across cultures.
Moving further, I spent quite some time speaking with two Ukrainian artists: Irina Dzhul, with her dreamy, soulful portraits and situations, creating her own world, and Alina Araslanova. At first, I passed by Alina’s work without stopping, but something drew me back. Our conversation shed new light on her remarkable project to strengthen communication with her teenage daughter, tormented by adolescence and the psychological toll of war and exile. Using colorful sheets of paper, she created a body of work that is not only visually striking but also profoundly meaningful, reaching far beyond the images themselves.
