"For eighteen years now, I have been lucky enough to visit the Saronic island of Hydra to record Pauline Karpidas’s annual arts weekend. This occurs in the sweltering heat of late July and loosely revolves around the opening of an annual exhibition curated by London gallerist Sadie Coles and held in Pauline’s gallery space at the port. I say ‘loosely’ because the primary reason for our presence on the island is a convivial one which allows artist to meet curator, collector to meet critic, patron to meet museum director and any variation of the above.
Stefan Ratibor, Francesca Amfitheatrof and Phoebe Philo, 200Photography by Johnnie Shand Kydd
Far from the rigid hierarchies of New York and London, the pace and mood of this ravishing island allows the art world to become much more relaxed and democratic – after a certain age swimming trunks have an alarmingly leveling effect. The magic of the island induces a sense of security which inevitably makes everyone drop their guard. Over the years Pauline’s generosity and vision have combined to create a sort of seaside version of an 18th century salon where spectacular careers and long lasting friendships have been forged by the most arbitrary of encounters on the beach. But I certainly don’t want to suggest that the entire weekend is devoted to the purpose of networking – far from it. My main memories of Hydra over the years are ones of fun, laughter and hangover in the most beautiful of places."
Ed and Juergen Teller 2008Photography by Johnnie Shand Kydd
A midnight swim with Phoebe Philo, Juergen Teller with his baby on his head, a déshabillé Tracey Emin mid-fag, a composed Isabella Blow, complete with a signature delicate headpiece in the blistering heat. The July weekend on the Greek island of Hydra is clearly not your average art world affair, with Johnnie Shand Kydd’s beautiful, sun-bleached photographs capturing some of the biggest names in British art and culture in exuberant and convivial informality.
Angus Fairhurst and Sarah Lucas, 1997Photography by Johnnie Shand Kydd
These luminaries are brought together year on year at the invitation of Pauline Karpidas, art collector and patron of the Whitworth Gallery in Manchester, where the photographs will go on show later this month, with an accompanying book filled with memories from those lucky enough to be asked to join the party. Yet the images do not provoke the sun starved viewer into a feeling of exclusivity or aloof separation; rather they provide insight into the spirit of the artists whose artworks they so admire. Seeing the likes of Emin and Teller at play adds another layer of understanding to their artistic vision, and it is a privilege to be taken there through Shand Kydd’s highly intimate lens. As Karpidas says herself about the weekend on Hydra: “It’s all about coming together and being part of life and giving something back.”
