This week it’s going to be all about photography in London, when the much-awaited first edition of Photo London rolls into town, attempting to throw the so far unrivaled Paris Photo from its throne. The fair will welcome a great mix of about 60 established and emerging galleries from all around the globe in the gorgeous Somerset House, while photography exhibitions, talks and print fairs are popping up all over the city. Three Belgian galleries have made their way to the English capital to take part in the whole shebang, and we’ve talked to the owners about their London adventure to give you a little sneak peek of what to expect from their carefully curated booths, and more.

Galerie Particulière, Brussels/Paris

Todd Hido

Just like in Paris, Galerie Particulière will mesmerize viewers with a solo booth featuring the captivating works by rising photography star Todd Hido. With his haunting, dreamy and mysterious practice he already made it into our top at last year’s Paris Photo. Evoking a Twin Peaks-like atmosphere, his visual language is heavily charged with psychological tension and emotional drama set in the suburban American landscape.

Ibasho Gallery, Antwerp

Takashi Yasumura

Newly founded Ibasho Gallery, located in Antwerp, specializes in Japanese photography, a fact that its owners Martijn van Pieterson and Annemarie Zethof want to make clear at the gallery’s very first fair. Accordingly, they’ve decided to solely showcase Japanese artists, such as Shomei Tomatsu, Daido Moriyama, Issei Suda, Miyako Ishiuchi, Toshiko Okanoue or Takashi Yasumura. “One of our favorites is a unique photo collage by Toshiko Okanoue. She only worked in the 1950s and has made only around 100 works. We are fortunate enough to own two of them of which we will be exhibiting one”, the pair explains, adding: “We see taking part in Photo London as a major milestone in developing and delivering the exciting, international photography gallery that we want to become. The London art market and the UK’s long history with photography should make Photo London into a fair that can rival with Paris Photo and AIPAD in New York”.

Gallery FIFTY ONE, Antwerp

Fifty One’s booth at the Somerset House

Antwerp’s Gallery FIFTY ONE , which by the way celebrates its 15th birthday this year, is preparing to show an eclectic but harmonious mix featuring the works of nine different photographers: Malick Sidibe, Seydou Keita, JD Okhai Ojeikere, Bruno V. Roels, William Klein, Masao Yamamoto, Tom Butler, Friederik von Rauch and Delphine Burtin. “I’m sure it will be a great fair because London is an important place for photography and there is definitely room for it here”, says gallery founder Roger Szmulewicz. Besides Photo London he recommends Tate’s “Salt and Silver: Early Photography 1840 – 1860” to London visitors as well as “Staying Power”, an exhibition focusing on the black British experience from the 50s to the 90s at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Photo London is at Somerset House from May 21 – 24