The Upcoming
  • Culture
    • Art
    • Cinema
      • Movie reviews
      • Film festivals
    • Food & Drinks
      • News & Features
      • Restaurant & bar reviews
      • Interviews & Recipes
    • Literature
    • Music
      • Live music
    • Theatre
    • Shows & On demand
  • Fashion & Lifestyle
    • Accessories
    • Beauty
    • News & Features
    • Shopping & Trends
    • Tips & How-tos
    • Fashion weeks
  • What’s On
    • Art exhibitions
    • Theatre shows
  • Tickets
  • Join us
    • Editorial unit
    • Our writers
    • Join the team
    • Join the mailing list
    • Fund us
    • Contact us
  • Interviews
  • Competitions
  • Special events
    • Film festivals
      • Berlin
      • Tribeca
      • Sundance London
      • Cannes
      • Locarno
      • Venice
      • London
      • Toronto
    • Fashion weeks
      • London Fashion Week
      • New York Fashion Week
      • Milan Fashion Week
      • Paris Fashion Week
      • Haute Couture
      • London Fashion Week Men’s
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • YouTube

  • Tumblr

  • RSS


CultureArt

Frieze Masters 2014

Frieze Masters 2014 | Exhibition review
18 October 2014
Lauren Pennycott
Lauren Pennycott
Avatar
Lauren Pennycott
18 October 2014

Exhibition and art

Dates

15th October 2014 - 19th October 2014

Links & directions

Website

However impressive and polished the gallery displays in the Frieze London tent are, Frieze Masters is undoubtedly the sophisticated sister event. Its dynamic is more scholarly and grown up, despite retaining the Frieze dedication to presenting a wide range of artists and mediums. Directed by Victoria Siddall, who incidentally will next year be taking on the role of director for both Frieze London and Frieze New York, Frieze Masters returns to Regents Park for a third year.FM

Perhaps it’s because of the specially edited and international treasure status of the work on display that there is decidedly more breathing space for both the art works and the visitors. What makes it unique from Frieze in the main is its cross-pollination of contemporary and historical art. With participating galleries exhibiting works from ancient eras through to the great profits of 20th century art there is a rich balance of major artwork.

The quantities of colourful and monochromatic work were markedly well balanced across the whole tent, enhancing the effect of individual pieces. One very striking curatorial choice made by Moretti Fine Art (D1) concerned two fiercely orange Gerhardt Richter studies flanking Antonio Vivarini’s St Catherine of Alexandria. The combination was slightly perverse, yet visually the colour from each enhanced its neighbour. The greys and muted neutrals on the walls gave a softer and more calming frame to the antique collections of both painting and statuesque marble sculptures and relics.

The breadth of painting territories represented was as broad and iconic as expected. The selection of abstract expressionist painting is astounding, with a number of galleries showcasing them as part of their proud collections. Gagosian gallery played homage to Helen Frankenthaler, De Kooning, Gorkey and Richard Green, featuring the electric colour triumph that is Patrick Heron’s Strata of Green and Scarlett Vermillion.  Nicholas de Staël also appears at various intervals, offering punch with his weighty caked-on paint in both abstract and figurative compositions.

Guiseppe Panone’s Propagazione fine line painting has an incredible articulation of depth, which echoes in his finger print drawings from Marian Goodman gallery (B1). However, the crisp line, cool blue on pale grey marvel that is Giovanni Anselmo’s Oltramare granite, paint and cord sculpture has delicious solidity and balance – every bit worth seeing. Another knock-out sculpture was Anish Kappoor’s Orade: a sandstone form with a cavity of blue pigmented; the eye is completely disorientated and fooled into the apparent infinite depth of the blue cave. 

Regarding photography, Frieze Masters has outdone itself regarding the quality and historical variety; from Ed Ruscha’s painterly aerial shots of parking lots to the ambiguous luxury in the black and white folds of flesh in photographs by Bill Brandt and Herb Ritts (D13). The fascinating Edward Steichen gum bichromate print from 1907 titled Black Canyon (A4) is just one example from the dramatic display at Hans P Krauss Jnr, which included negatives from Frederick H Evans and familial vignettes from Negre. Equally enthralling for their historical information were the maps presented by Daniel Crouch (B10), particularly the endearing John Rocques Magnificent Map of Early Georgian London from 1746.

The innovative installation titled The Collector took the shape of the staged domestic rooms of a man whose attempt to engage with the “agony and ecstasy” of life through his art collections. Cluttered with exhibition catalogues, books and prints, cleverly embedded in the belongings of the imaginary character are iconic paintings by the like of Morandi, Picasso and Fontana. Directly placing art in the context of a household setting, this piece designed by Robin Brown is surprisingly fitting for an art fair where the buying and dealing of art is still central.

Frieze Masters is a unique experience for lovers of art and art market participators alike. There are tour guides available for those in favour of a more structured experience, although the expertise of the gallery personnel is more than adequate for most questions. Get past the elitism and the ticket price and you’ve got a rare opportunity to see a high concentration of the best of the best the international gallery community has to offer.

★★★★★

Lauren Pennycott

Frieze Masters runs from 15th to 19th October 2014, for further information or to book visit here.

Related Items2014art fairfrieze masterslondon

More in Art

Nelson Mandela: The Official Exhibition at 26 Leake Street Gallery

★★★★★
Amaliah Sara Marmon-Halm
Read More

Tracey Emin: A Fortnight of Tears at White Cube Bermondsey

★★★★★
The editorial unit
Read More

Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams

★★★★★
Anna Souter
Read More

Georgll Uvs: Full Circle – The Beauty of Inevitability at Saatchi Gallery

★★★★★
Anna Souter
Read More

Bill Viola/Michelangelo: Life Death Rebirth at the Royal Academy of Arts

★★★★★
Anna Souter
Read More

Pierre Bonnard: The Colour of Memory at Tate Modern

★★★★★
Anna Souter
Read More

Grace Wales Bonner: A Time for New Dreams at Serpentine Sackler Gallery

★★★★★
The editorial unit
Read More

Fausto Melotti: Counterpoint at Estorick Collection

★★★★★
Anna Souter
Read More

Six must-see London exhibitions coming up in 2019

Anna Souter
Read More
Scroll for more
Tap

Exhibition and art

Dates

15th October 2014 - 19th October 2014

Links & directions

Website

Tickets

Theatre tickets

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • TOP PICKS

  • Babylon Beyond Borders at the Bush Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Rip It Up: The 60s at Garrick Theatre
    ★★★★★
    Theatre
  • Johnstons of Elgin autumn/winter 2019 collection presentation for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Demons
    ★★★★★
    Berlinale
  • Happy Death Day 2U
    ★★★★★
    Movie review
  • Kalissi autumn/winter 2019 collection catwalk show for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • UNDERAGE autumn/winter 2019 collection presentation for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Margaret Howell autumn/winter 2019 collection catwalk show for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Jeremy Loops and James Hersey at the Roundhouse
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • A-Jane autumn/winter 2019 collection presentation for LFW
    Fashion weeks
  • Jeremy Loops and James Hersey at the Roundhouse
    ★★★★★
    Live music
  • An interview with Piranhas (La paranza dei bambini) director Claudio Giovannesi
    Berlinale
  • “I write my books and my articles to carry out my own revenge against those who try to silence me, to shut me out”: An interview with journalist and author of Piranhas (La paranza dei bambini) Roberto Saviano
    Berlinale
  • Berlin Film Festival 2019: Awards predictions and highlights from the festival
    Berlinale
  • Armour
    ★★★★★
    Theatre

Instagram

Something is wrong.
Instagram token error.
The Upcoming
Pages
  • Contact us
  • Fund us
  • Join mailing list
  • Join us
  • Our London food map
  • Our writers
  • What, when, why

Copyright © 2018 FL Media Ltd

Frieze Art Fair 2014 | Exhibition review
Wooden Arms at St Pancras Old Church | Live review