This week, the eyes of the art world have all settled on Regents Park for Frieze London, the annual art fair spotlighting the art world’s most established names and emerging talent. Since 2003, when Frieze magazine founded the art fair, Frieze London has seen an annual accumulation of critics, celebrities, artists, collectors, and members of the public hit up the booths and exhibitions to see the works of some of the best contemporary artists in the game right now. In case that all sounds a bit overwhelming, we’ve compiled a list of the Frieze London events and works that you won’t want to miss.
Fashion has a cameo with Stone Island’s limited staff tees
Stone Island’s getting the badge into the art world by supporting 34 emerging gallerists this Frieze as part of an ongoing partnership. Taking on the role of Official Partner of Focus, Stone Island is supporting galleries founded under 12 years ago, offering a bursary to each participant that will help to support emerging artists. Just as Stone Island did in New York and Seoul at past Frieze Art Fairs, the brand has also created staff tees for the fair, linking up with artist Nat Faulkner whose work features on the t-shirts themselves.
Sarah Lucas is delivering an interactive piece
Sarah Lucas, famous for her commentaries on sexuality and the female form, is inviting you to make some art at Frieze London via her interactive performance, titled “1000 Eggs: For Women”. The installation invites women (anyone who identifies as a woman, or men dressed as women) to throw 1,000 eggs at a white wall, resulting in a slippery yellow artwork that evokes conversations around women, politics, fertility, and more.
Sun Woo wants us to look into her “Portals”
Korean-Canadian artist Sun Woo is hosting a series of works at Gallery Vacancy as part of Frieze London this month, inviting us to step into the immersive fabricated scenery of another world. Titled “Portals”, Woo’s presentation brings the experience of cultural and geographical migration to life through evocative paintings of rural landscapes contrasted with obscure objects that are meant to represent a sense of nostalgia.
Anne Hardy brings a “Survival Spell” to Maureen Paley’s booth
Maureen Daley’s booth is presenting Anna Hardy’s sixth solo exhibition this Frieze, a culmination of found object sculptures forming human-like figures. In particular, one work titled “Survival Spell” is made up of ’things that were once useful’, including coiled wire, a cast of a hand, leather boots, and even Hardy’s own jeans. Bringing to life the forgotten objects Hardy has foraged from around London, the sculpture evokes a feeling of time passed and spent.
Peer through the frames of Charlotte Edey’s worlds
This Frieze, Ginny on Frederick gallery is hosting Charlotte Edey’s “Thin Places”, a solo presentation that’s making windows to another world its focal point. Through her selection of window-framed pieces, Edey redirects us to see different perspectives that merge interior worlds with their exterior ones, using a mixture of materials from beading to pastels, to create surreal visuals.
BMW invites us to relax in its cultural BMW Lounge
This Frieze, BMW is inviting you into its BMW Lounge, a space to relax and be immersed in art, interiors, and culture. The space itself is inspired by the works of South African artist Esther Mahlangu, and is filled with artworks from actor Russell Tovey’s private collection alongside creations from Nicholas Daley.
Nicole Wermers’ found objects blend product placement with art
Nicole Wemers’ “Reclining Female #3”, a piece that explores the relationship between functionality and aesthetics through the use of sculptures made from everyday objects, was actually just bought by The Arts Council Acquisition Fund to add to the Arts Council Collection. Demonstrating her interest in contemporary consumer culture, the piece is a blend of found objects like grocery bags and linen with clay sculpture.
Step into the heat of Jenkin Van Zyl’ latest work
London-based artist and filmmaker Jenkin Van Zyl has brought the heat to the Edel Assanti booth in the form of a full size sauna. Stepping into the wooden structure, you’ll find a film playing featuring a cast of strange skeletal creatures set against the backdrop of an abandoned swimming pool. The piece as a whole is surreal, subversive, and steamy.
Wolfgang Tillmans captures love, life, and relationships
Turner Prize-winning photographer Wolfgang Tillmans is hosting a selection of works at the Maureen Paley Gallery this Frieze. Bringing his observational style of photography to the fair, Tillmans was actually the first photographer to win the Turner Prize in 2000. Seeing his 1998 piece “Michael & Stefan” in person is on plenty of people’s bucket lists.
Ben Swaby Selig and Hannah Oliver link up for “Sound Clash”
“Sound Clash” is a collaborative project between sound artist Ben Swaby Selig and filmmaker/photographer Hannah Oliver comprising three sound stations across Frieze London. Based on the de- and re-constructive Jamaican sonic practices, the project uses a sensory blend of audio and visuals to conceptualise the shift between East London and Jamaica, discussing ideas of gentrification and dislocation.
Frieze parties hard too, with Studio Voltaire, S.S. Daley, & BMW
On top of the installations and exhibitions taking over London this Frieze Art Fair, there are also plenty of parties kicking off. Stone Island hosted the official Frieze London dinner; Studio Voltaire linked up with The Loewe Foundation to host an array of guests for its 30th anniversary party; BMW hit up Koko again for another event celebration creativity and innovative in electric mobility; and will S.S. Daley join in the festivities too with its own event.
Featured image via @friezeofficial ©
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