Preview: Frieze Art Fair 2012
If you're a discerning collector or admirer of contemporary art, then Regent's Park is the place you need to be come October 11.
The al-fresco Frieze Art Fair, now in its tenth year, is the brainchild of the eponymous London art magazine. It will be setting up its makeshift outdoor gallery in the royal park where visitors can see (and buy) works from over 1,000 different artists from around the world, including British favourite, Grayson Perry. And with the best 170 contemporary galleries from Tokyo to Berlin bringing their best artists with them, you’re in for a real mix of talents and themes.
Galleries exhibiting range from Covent Garden’s White Cube to Shoreditch’s Carl Freedman Gallery, via New York’s Broadway 1602 and Beijing’s Vitamin Creative Space.
As well as being able to cast a critical eye over the artworks, you’ll also be able to view the specially commissioned pieces for the fair and peek in on Frieze Talks where debates, panel discussions and keynote lectures will be on hand to fuel your curiosity.
Outside of the main gallery space, there will be a pop-up sculpture park, where works by sculptors such as the provocative Frenchman Jean-Luc Moulène, whose photographic work depicts anything from nudes and eggplants to sausages, and the 90-year-old British sculptor William Turnball – who has had major retrospectives of his work at the Tate and the Serpentine Gallery – will be on display.
Running alongside the fair will be the first ever exhibition of Frieze Masters, which looks at historical art through a modern day lens. There will be 90 galleries to take your pick from, all of which are exhibiting work from before the year 2000, from the ancient era to the masters of the 20 century, including John Constable to Picasso.
With the Fair covering anything from paintings to sculptures, you’re guaranteed to find something that appeals to your inner art critic. And with the dreary weather of autumn upon us, what better way to spend a wet weekend? Book up early – this is going to be popular.
Frieze London and Frieze Masters @ Regent’s Park, NW1 4NR. From October 11 to 14. Tickets priced from £25. For more information and to buy tickets go to friezelondon.com
