The UK’s premier fair for Modern and contemporary British art opens for its private view today. Situated in the Business Design Centre, Islington, the 27th edition of the London Art Fair will be on view to the public 21-25 January. With 128 exhibtors from across the world, the fair gives a unique overview of the art world and has an exiting programme of curated exhibitions, talks, films and performances. There are a number of highlights at this year’s event, including the inaugural Art Projecs Artist Award and the premiere of William Mackrell’s North South live performance on 22 January.
This year Pallant House Gallery, Chichester presents an exhibition of key works from their collection; The Figure in Modern British Art. Artistic Director Simon Martine curates a unique exhibition of artworks by some of the leading British figurative artists of the 20th century from Frank Auerbach to Lucian Freud. The Figure in Modern British Art explores how these artists approached the human figure and is housed in a specially designed pavillion at the front of the main fair.
Several galleries, including Goodman Fine Art, present work by pioneering Scottish abstract painter Alan Davie RA whilst Gilden’s Arts Gallery displays an original 1940s Picasso portrait of Dora Maar. Fair sponsor Lund Humphries celebrate the work of Eduardo Paolozzi with a stand as well as two of the artist’s monumental sculptures presented by Bowman Sculpture. Further contemporary highlights include Yinka Shonibare’s playful exploration of gender stereotypes and power relations in Kaleidoscope and RABLEY CONTEMPORARY’s presentation of the art of Eileen Cooper RA.
Art Projects, London Art Fair’s curated section of emerging contemporary art from across the world, features a range of are forms. Dialogues, a section within Art Projects features collaborative presentations from invited galleries and is curated by Anna Colin, co-director of Open School East. One participating gallery, South Kiosk will be displaying a 5M long lightbox work by Joachim Sefzick.
This year’s Photo50, entitled Against Nature, is curated by Sheyi Bankale and poses questions considering how a photograph can become elevated to the status of an object, act or intervention. Other photography highlights include Flowers Gallery’s Booth, which exhibits work by Nadav Kander, among others.
The Art Projects Film Programme, curated by Pryle Behrman, runs throughout the Fair in a purpose-built screening room within Art Projects in partnership with LIMA, Amsterdam. On 22 January, the fair will remain open to the public until 9pm for Thursday Late. Special events include Maeve Rendle’s novel-reading, which will act as a means to explore the curious relationship between freedom of thought and literal inspiration. In addition, visitors can take part in an extensive programme of talks, tours and critical debates, including A Master Class in the Art of Interiors on 24 January with Jade Thomson, Feature Editor at LuxDeco.
London Art Fair, 21-25 January, Business Design Centre, 52 Upper Street, London, N1 0QH.
Credits
1. Thorsten Brinkmann, Grand Duc Vasario, 2014, Found objects and C-print, 305 x 280 x 95cm ©Thorsten Brinkmann & VG Bildkunst 2014 Bonn, Courtesy Gallery Hopstreet, Brussels.
