If you’re going to Paris Photo, you can see Finnish artist Niko Luoma’s new works at Gallery Taik Persons’ booth. I had a chance to have a quick talk with Niko pre-fair.

Q: Hey Niko, which of your new works will be presented at the fair?
A: Adaptations of Van Gogh 14 Sunflowers (1889) and Adaptations of Hieronymus Bosch The garden of the Earthly Delight.

Q: How are your works done?
A: They are multiple exposures on film, with light as material. The works are adaptations of Van Gogh’s and Hieronymus Bosch’s paintings. In the Van Gogh, there are exactly 28 exposures and in the two Bosch pieces, a couple of thousand. The exposures are done in the studio.

Q: How do you choose the paintings?
A: I have always been interested in space, but as photography is so closely related to memory, it’s interesting to work with paintings that are quite well-known. Even though Van Gogh’s sunflower series is quite a cliché, there are great spatial possibilities that can be found when you chop the works into pieces and then put them back together again. When successful, each adaptation is a surprising dialogue with the original artwork.

Q: Which part of the working process do you enjoy the most?
A: Each part is important. I’m a process artist.

Q: What are your expectations for this year’s fair?
A: Paris Photo has always been extremely important for me in establishing contacts. Anything can happen, and that’s what makes it exceptional. Paris has also become an annual meeting place for me and my gallerists. I can’t say I especially enjoy art fairs, except for Paris Photo!

Q: What are you going to see this year?
A: Carl Andre at The Musee d’Art Moderne.

Q: What’s your favourite place in Paris?
A: Hotel Bristol Piano Bar.

Thanks Niko, and have a great time at the fair!