ABOUT

How It All Began

It all began in autumn of 2004 with this peculiar and mysterious toy that chance dropped into our laps. There was the charming misshapenness of it, the strange smell it emanated and that lettering that was familiar to us right away. It read POLAROID and SUPERSHOOTER - it was our first instant camera and everything that followed took the heart of our analogue passion by storm. Today, 2 years later, our fascination of the first encounter turned into an intense relationship full of passion and awe. Most notably an awe of the inventive genius of Edwin Land and his visions, as well as a reverence for his masterpiece – the SX-70–which, to us, remains the most beautiful and most revolutionary camera of all time.

One thing became clear to us only gradually as time passed: the real reason that Polaroid always has been synonymous with cult and that it possesses an irrepressible potential to captivate people both then and now, lies within the mysterious, almost magical power of those images.

Polaroids tell stories in an inimitable way. Stories so intense and intimate that upon viewing, the photographer often isn’t the only one struck with this feeling of being (or having been) part of a scene. And chance leads the way. Polaroids are originals and thus as unique as paintings. This extraordinary characteristic sets them apart from all other photographic works. As a result they are honest, incorruptible and authentic.

The Gallery

Polanoir, the first gallery worldwide to exclusively dedicate itself to Polaroid photography presents to you a selection of extraordinary Polaroids available to attractive conditions. Everlasting moments captured by established as well as unknown young artists from all over the world made available in the form of high-quality, large-format, limited editions as well as unique originals, that pursue one major goal: to convey the indescribable fascination of Polaroids. In this era of digital sensibilities, experience the magic and feel the special and often mysterious effect particular to an all but forgotten analogue medium, which, even though declared dead by many, now celebrates with Polanoir a touching, experimental and deeply alluring comeback.


POLANOIR GALLERY VIENNA

Artists

POLANOIR curently features 18 artists from all over the world, established contemporary photographers as well as promising newcomers, selected by an international jury.

POLANOIR is an open project in progress. New artists will be presented on a regular basis. If you are interested in joining POLANOIR, please contact us at office@polanoir.com

Polaroids

Polaroids are truly outstanding pieces of photographic art for many reasons

• the one and only photographic medium that produces real unique originals.
• the most analog pictures possible - recognisable at first sight because of structure, colors and the unique Polaroid framing.
• pictures that bring back coincidences into photography. An inimitable combination of analog chemistry and instant visible results.
• pictures that can be manipulated in many ways, using unique creative gizmo’s for an amazing number of innovative techniques and projects.
• pictures that are immortal proofs to express the powerful dynamic visualization of Polaroid films.
• Polaroids are an endangered species in this digital world – making them very special indeed.

Polaroids will be available as large format POLANOIR Standard and Gallery editions and as originals, featured in regular offline auctions at the POLANOIR gallery Vienna.
POLANOIR is an ongoing and evolutionary project, therefore we are looking forward to present many new artists and their very best Polaroids in the near future.