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This year Brighton's international photography festival has been curated by
British photographer Martin Parr, and, rather than plump for well-known headline
names, he has decided to showcase the work of obscure or niche practicioners.
Among the most left-field on the shortlist is Nick Gleis, who photographs the
pimped up private jets that belong African dictators and other heads of state.
Until now, the work of private aviation photographer Nick Gleis has gone largely
unnoticed, beyond the private photograph albums of his extremely rich clients.
His expertise lies in photographing the most exclusive, world-class private jets
and VIP aircraft.
Gleis, who describes his images as “extremely security-sensitive” has
photographed the private jets for heads of state of African countries, including
Cameroon, and also China. However, due to the private contractual nature of his
photography, he will not disclose for the exhibition which aircraft belongs to
which client.
The 2010 Brighton Photography Biennale will also feature works by
internationally renowned photographers including Robert Mapplethorpe and John
Deakin. Gleis is not a fine artist, and his work is rarely exhibitied in fine
art galleries - although, according to his website he was trained by influential
photographer Ansel Adams.
When asked why he thought his work had been selected for the exhibition Gleis
said he thought it was "because of the unique design and unusual nature of the
interior of the aircraft, along with who owned the aircraft.”
Gleis has also photographed the private aircraft of many Hollywood celebrities,
royalty around the world, and company aircrafts, which can be fitted with
conference tables.
Besides his enthusiasm for aircraft, Gleis has also had the opportunity to
branch out into photographing other modes of luxury travel:
“Because of the unique financial position of most of my clients, they have other
items, such as large collections of exotic automobiles and so on, that I also
photograph.”
The content of the images will be in stark contrast to the way in which the
festival's curator has chosen to present the work on show.
According to Martin Parr the 2010 Brighton Photography Biennale, called New
Documents, the first "frame-free photography festival in the world: to reflect
the state of the world's economy, as well as the immediacy and vibrancy of
contemporary photography".
"In my travels round the world, I have been seeking out new photography from
Japan, Africa, Asia and Latin America, as well as Europe and North America,"
says Parr.
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