March 29, 2024

London Art Fair – Spotting the intriguing amongst the lacklustre

This weekend saw London’s first big art fair of the year hit the Islington Business Design Centre. Like most art fairs it brings home the fact that art is a business and selling product is the aim. Pictures lean on walls with scribbled notes on their backs. Others stand wrapped, their corrugated cardboard covers boldly addressed in marker pen. More pieces are fetched from small cupboards to fill gaps on the walls. Gallerists sit at their desks looking bored. People rush back and forth along the narrow corridors between stands. It’s not a contemplative atmosphere.

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The busy atmosphere at the London Art Fair 

Don’t try and look at everything. Much will be the same old, same old. Explore the aisles as though they were narrow streets in an unknown mediterranean town. Listen to the local accents…I’m surprised that hasn’t been bought. It’s wonderful…Touche pas!..These do work very well in pairs…

What are the highlights of this year’s London Art Show in Islington? It depends which way you walk, which pieces catch your eye amongst the hordes of visitors. But here are a few that we spotted.

Maisie Broadhead’s Vermeer spoofs at Sarah Myerscough.

Marijke Vasey’s untitled, obliterated portrait at GBS Fine Art.

Jeremy Kidd’s Thames photographs that allow the content to define the outlines of the canvas.

Jess Wilson’s Light Switch (two) at Jealous.

Henry/Bragg’s BINGO performance, an inclusive, enjoyable homage to a disappearing English traditional pastime.

I like that one. I don’t like that one. I like that one…I find their work really harrowing…I don’t get it at all…

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