Boogie Woogie Photography

Boogie Woogie Photography has promoted photography in Asia since 2016. Named after Piet Mondrian's "Broadway Boogie Woogie", it addresses Asia's growing interest in photography and contemporary approaches to the medium. The gallery represents prominent photographers and others less well known in Asia, curates exhibitions, and advises collectors. Directed by Vanessa Franklin, the gallery is located in a spacious loft in Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong's new artistic hub. Visits are by appointment.

Exhibition Highlights:

Originally trained as a sculptor, Michel Sima (1912–1987) turned to the camera after the Second World War, entering artists’ studios to photograph authentic moments in the creative processes of masters of the School of Paris, including Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. In Picasso’s studio at the Château d’Antibes, Sima photographed the artist’s daily creative activities, leaving behind a unique visual document.

As a peer among artists, Sima created working portraits of major figures of the School of Paris, including Matisse, Duchamp, and Giacometti, capturing intimate moments while their works were still in the making. These photographs go beyond straightforward documentation, revealing the artists in the true atmosphere of their studios. Sima’s portraits differ from any other photography of his time: he did not pursue journalistic snapshots, nor was he preoccupied with formal aesthetic experimentation. Instead, from the perspective of a fellow artist, he allowed his subjects to simply be themselves within the spaces they knew best.