“After seven years of intense and dynamic collaboration on the artistic level, the European Photography House (MEP) announces the end of Simon Baker’s mandate, its director”. Published this day, the Laconic Press release of the MEP confirms the information that has been circulating for some time. Appointed on January 24, 2018, the former senior curator of photography at Tate Modern had however been renewed recently in his functions.
Nothing therefore suggested such a decision, especially since Simon Baker’s programming met with some success with the public, in particular to young people, with a significant level of attendance in 2023 of 175,564 visitors and a net operating profit in 2024 of 145,000 euros against a loss of 182,000 euros in 2023. The amount of the acquisitions of works amounted to 123,000 euros, while the works of works were 461,000 euros.
The absence, in the press release, of Simon Baker’s declaration, reinforces questions about the reasons for this unexpected, even precipitated departure. Does Simon Baker leave his duties to join another institution? Or, on the contrary, is this departure imposed on him by the Board of Directors chaired by Jacques Bungert since February 2024? And if so, why?
For the time being, neither of the two parties wishes to give more details, which suggests serious disagreement. Discussions between lawyers would be underway.
Familiar with Parisian and Arlesian photographic institutions, Simon Baker, born in 1972 in the United Kingdom, had taken office at MEP on April 1, 2018, after the departure of Jean-Luc Monterosso, co-founder and director of the establishment since its inauguration in 1996. From the start, its programming, inaugurated by the REN HANG retrospective (1987-2017) and the COCO CAPITCHA. with that of his predecessor. It has also been criticized over the years for the little visibility given to the French scene. In seven years, only Thomas Mailaender, in 2024, and Marie-Laure de Decker benefited from an exhibition on two floors. The MEP team was deeply renewed.
“His look, his expertise and his passion for photography gave a decisive impetus to the artistic programming of the institution”underlines the press release, which specifies that “Pending the appointment of a new direction, the interim is provided by Caroline Miller, general administrator of the MEP, Clothilde Morette ensuring the continuity of programming and artistic direction”.
