Frieze Art Fair London 2013: the Wallpaper* edit
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Frieze directors Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover had promised a visitor experience closer to civilised this year (see our November issue). And it was closer. The aisles were wider, the food was better, stands were bigger. You could actually spend quality time with some pieces (though Ron Mueck’s ’Woman with Shopping’ at the Hauser & Wirth stand drew constant queues of people trying to get close, like a Madonna drawing the faithful, which is what she is).
The art on show here is still, inevitably, a mix of good, bad and indifferent. And even if there has been a shift to more considered and curated presentations, the sheer randomness of it all makes for dizzying disorientation (The Focus area, reserved for younger galleries showing pieces commissioned for Frieze, had more, er focus. And we enjoyed the playfulness of the site-specific works shown at Frieze Projects).
See highlights from sister event, Frieze Masters 2013, and the exhibitions across London
It may also be largely beside the point. This is one of three or four times a year when the seriously rich slow down and gather just long enough in one place to drop serious cash. It is never going to make for dignified spectacle. Fascinating but never dignified. Frieze, perhaps more than any of the other of the major fairs, is where the ritualised dance around the cheque books is most on display, most vividly laid bare (even if most of the serious players have done their business long before the rest of us are let in).
And yet the feeling remains that, whatever their intentions, Sharp and Slotover (and the other big fair organisers) are riding an out-of-control and heavily-botoxed bull that may crash into a wall at any moment. If one serious collector, a François Pinault or similar, suddenly decided they had had enough of the whole circus and cashed in their art assets, determined on doing something more useful with the money, would the whole market go into a death spiral? Or would others just move in, literally pick up the pieces, and keep things profitably spinning? We will see.
Meanwhile, we’ve pulled together a selection of what is still on view - if not up for grabs - this weekend, from a couple of new Chris Ofilis’ at David Zwirner to Dan Graham’s walk-in ‘Groovy Spiral’ at Lisson Gallery.
Galerie Perrotin presented a trio of new works by Elmgreen & Dragset. Pictured from left: 'The Equation'; 'He'; and 'Second chance'. Courtesy Galerie Perrotin,
Detail of 'He', by Elmgreen & Dragset, 2013, shown at the Galerie Perrotin stand. In summer 2012, the Danish national icon 'The Little Mermaid' in Elsinore welcomed the company of a new male counterpart, 'Han', a site-specific sculpture by the Elmgreen & Dragset. 'Han' depicts a young man positioned on a stone by the seaside just like his famous 'sister' in Copenhagen. Continuing in the same vein, the artists have created 'He', a sculpture inspired by their original installation. Courtesy Galerie Perrotin,
Anton Kern Gallery presented (from left): Series, by Jim Lambie, 2013; 'Hamlet', by David Shrigley, 2013; 'Look at This', by David Shrigley, 2013; 'A Burden', by David Shrigley, 2013; and 'Lady Taking a Poop', David Shrigley, 2013
'Cosmic Background Radiation', by Richard Hughes, 2013. Courtesy Anton Kern Gallery, New York
Hauser & Wirth's stand featured 'She He Enis Penis cut', by Paul McCarthy, 2013, the first painting the artist has made in 20 years. The work has a Western theme - cowboy motifs and ideas of masculinity - which has been present in McCarthy's work for a long time
'Woman with Shopping', by Ron Mueck, 2013, was also on show at the Hauser & Wirth stand
'A Woman With A Bit Of Color', by Mark Bradford, 2013, at the Hauser & Wirth stand
'SP246', by Sterling Ruby, 2013, at the Hauser & Wirth stand
David Zwirner presented works by the likes of Isa Genzken, Oscar Murillo, Adel Abdessemed and Chris Ofili, who debuted a new oil painting on linen (left) at the fair. Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of one of two new works by Oscar Murillo, shown at the David Zwirner stand. Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/London
Installation view of the David Zwirner stand. Courtesy David Zwirner, New York/London
'Striped Canopies', by Fredrik Værslev, 2013, shown at the Andrew Kreps Gallery stand
Louise Blowing a Bubble, by Roe Ethridge, 2013, shown at the Andrew Kreps Gallery stand
'Life Palace (tea room)', by Tatsuo Miyajima, 2013. Courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery
'Life (le corps sans organes) -no.19', by Tatsuo Miyajima, 2013. Courtesy the artist and Lisson Gallery.
Timothy Taylor Gallery presented works by the likes of Kiki Smith, whose 'Cathedral (Wolf)' tapestry piece is pictured in the foreground
'Berliner Haus', by Jessica Jackson Hutchins, 2012 (left), shown at the Timothy Taylor Gallery stand © Kiki Smith. Courtesy Timothy Taylor Gallery, London
Outside, in the English Gardens of Regent’s Park, the Frieze Sculpture Park is located a short walk from the fair. Pictured, 'But I'm On the Guestlist, Too!', by Elmgreen & Dragset, 2012, presented by Victoria Miro at Frieze Sculpture Park. Courtesy Frieze.
'Strapped', by Matt Calderwood, 2013, presented by Wilkinson at Frieze Sculpture Park. Courtesy Frieze.
'Please Don't Kill Us', by David Shrigley, 2007, presented by Anton Kern Gallery at Frieze Sculpture Park
'Detached 3', by Rachael Whitehead, presented by Gagosian Gallery at Frieze Sculpture Park. Courtesy Frieze.
For the first time in 2013, Frieze Projects includes a site-specific commission for the Family Space, conceived by Greek artist Angelo Plessas, entitled 'The Temple of Play'
Back inside the fair, Team Gallery's stand consisted of a single, large-scale work each by Cory Arcangel, Ryan McGinley and Tabor Robak alongside a smaller side space with additional pieces by the artists
Installation view of 'You and My Friends 4', by Ryan McGinley, 2013, at the Team Gallery stand
'1998 Pentium II Xeon', by Tabor Robak, 2013, at the Team Gallery stand
'William (Green Swamp)', by Ryan McGinley, 2013, at the Team Gallery stand
'Untitled (clintons)', by Cory Arcangel, 2013, at the Team Gallery stand
'Lehrstück VI, Spiegelperspektive', by Robert & Trix Haussmann, 1979-2013, at the Herald St stand. Courtesy of Herald St, London
'Standardised Form No.4 (nude)', by Matthew Darbyshire, 2013, at the Herald St stand. Courtesy of Herald St, London
Made in Africa (Assembled in China)', by Djordje Ozbolt, 2013, at the Herald St stand. Courtesy of Herald St, London
'Silver 118', by Wolfgang Tillmans, 2013, at the Maureen Paley stand
'London Olympics', by Wolfgang Tillmans, 2013, at the Maureen Paley stand
Galeria Fortes Vilaça stand at Frieze, with works by Jac Leirne, Mauro Restiffe, José Damasceno. Courtesy Galeria Fortes Vilaça.
Installation view of Mauro Restiffe's photographic 'Oscar' series, shown at the Galeria Fortes Vilaça stand. Courtesy Galeria Fortes Vilaça.
Untitled (Abracadabra), by Navid Nuur, 2009-2013, shown at the Galerie Max Hetzler stand. Courtesy Navid Nuur and Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin.
'Balloon Drawings', by Jose Dávila, 2013, at the Max Wigram Gallery stand.
'Moments of Equilibrium II', by Jose Dávila, 2013, at the Max Wigram Gallery stand.
'Modele (A Revision) N44', by Marine Hugonnier, 2013, at the Max Wigram Gallery stand.
'Pattern', by Luiz Zerbini, 2013, at the Max Wigram Gallery stand
'Bangkok III', by Andreas Gursky, 2011, shown at the Sprueth Magers stand.
'Danger', by Rosemarie Trockel, 2012, shown at the Sprueth Magers stand
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