Frieze Art Fair 2018: A kaleidoscope of colour and composition

Frieze returns to London for it’s 16^th year. This annual spectacle takes over part of Regent’s Park and cocoons over 160 worldwide galleries under it’s temporary exhibition tent. Over 1,000 established and upcoming contemporary artists transform curated stands into a kaleidoscope of colour and compositions that draw international collectors and visitors from all over the world.

This year the fair is divided into four segments: the main section, focus, social work and live. The first is where exhibitors from commercial galleries showcase their international artists. Within this area and close to the entrance of the marquee, we encounter a breathtaking feat from Paris-based installation artist Tatiana Trouvé (Booth A2). A fallen tree, cast from bronze with twiggy roots, protrudes from heavily cracked concrete and a pile of folded marble blankets. This grand display weighs in at 30 tonnes and carries a rather hefty price tag to match. Other highlights in this main space include an oversized wax statue by Urs Fischer and the rather wonderful David Shrigley’s huge and contentious neon scrawlings. (Booth C9). A gleaming Tracey Emin and work from Marina Abramovic keep the Instagram crowd happy, and the 973 beautiful tiny clay and bronze sculptures from Ouyung Chun (Booth A13), which took him a year to complete, remind us how utterly time consuming some of these pieces can be.

Social Work unifies eight female artists (in a follow up to last year’s critically acclaimed Sex Work), where creatives like the late Helen Chadwick (Booth S2) show us a bit of feminine grit. Her photos boldly show her dressed as kitchen utensils and although sometimes humorous, their aim is to put a firm foot in the male-dominated art market.

Focus then allows emerging artists and galleries to have their space too. Look out for the shell-covered broomsticks by Paul Heyer (H28) with their Disney-esque appearance. Be sure to catch the live action that’s happening around you too. Artist Julia Scher sends elderly ladies clad head to toe in her signature pink security uniforms to mingle and merge. If visitors come to notice the hidden security cameras that make up part of her routine too, they’ll catch her “Big brother is watching you” message loud and clear. There’s also an opera singer who rehashes what she hears around her. So be careful what musings you mutter!

Ezelle Alblas
Photos: Ewa Ferdynus

Frieze Art Fair is at Regent’s Park from 4^th until 7^th October 2018. For further information visit the exhibition’s website here.