London is a host to many fairs and events daily. The important international art fairs are amongst a network of some 15 to 20 top destinations worldwide, where art dealers showcase the art by the artists they represent. One long-term veteran of such events, who has been involved in the scene informed me these events provided a sense of purpose for the art dealers, the way it glamorises their existence by living out of suitcases.The yearning to be part of an influential elite club, promoting the arts and above all their stable of artists with their works they carry around with them from each location.
…these events provided a sense of purpose for the art dealers, the way it glamorises their existence by living out of suitcases.
The works on display of international known and unknowns, mixed in a flea market of a luxurious kind. For me still visiting art fairs are great as it is an opportunity to see a diversity of works that otherwise hard to see under one roof.
One can only love and loathe it at the same time of the commerciality and of how the art world fickleness creates such high and low conditions for artists and their dealers to operate. However, we do still love more of it; we like these massive showcases where we can see more works and most importantly mingle with our friends and find art bargains.
Art15 I liked, it was not too cramped, allowing ample space to promenade up and down the aisles with ease. I kept bumping into old friends more than usual; perhaps it was the openness that allowed one to spot and engage in conversation, after all ours is to view, to discuss and to exchange ideas. Art15 may not be highbrow master collections, the diversity was refreshing and more than made up for it. There is a surge in interest in figurative paintings but it was not as much as I would have like. The faceless figures painting by Gideon Rubin of Alon Segev Gallery, in contrast to James Ostrer from Azerbaijan who painted faces with colourfully loaded candies, portraits inspired by Leigh Bowery type romanticism, there where much more of course not enough time to see them all.
There where Khaled Zaki’s from Egypt mystically inspired sufis sculptures of dervishes in meditation at Hafez Gallery, Feathered arrangements by Kate Mccgwire in circular formations and other shapes reminiscing of biological entities where inspiring to see. Some artists are beginning to incorporate technology in their works. It exemplifies in various forms with the interactive sound installation “Homing” by Jenna Burchell, others employed 3d lenticular techniques to bring about illusion of space or incorporating digital screens into their pieces with interactive elements. There is a healthy experimentation with technology in the arts. It is a space to watch as well as the emerging paintings with painters going back to their roots.
@art15London #art15 yoshiyuri ooe
A video posted by Hercules Fisherman (@herxf) on