Frieze: Global Footprints

The 15th edition of Frieze London takes place next month, an internationally attended event with more than 160 leading galleries that showcases the ambitious visions of both established and emerging artists.

The event has various notable strands which offer contemporary insight into the wider arts industry. Ambitious solo and group shows are presented in the Main and Focus sections, with esteemed institutions for the former including Marian Goodman, Hauser & Wirth, Massimo de Carlo, Gagosian, Matthew Marks, Sprüth Magers and David Zwirner. Notable solo presentations bright to light the works of Alicja Kwade, Ilya and Emilia Kabakov and Thomas Ruff. The Focus thread consists of exciting names that push boundaries and welcome audiences into new spheres of thinking. Names for the 2017 selection hail from 34 galleries from Cairo to Berlin – aged 12 years or younger – including an installation-performance by Lloyd Corporation at Carlos/Ishikawa and a new installation including a video essay by Hannah Black at Arcadia Missa.

Alongside these exciting strands is the New Section, which in 2016, included input from Geneva-based curator Nicolas Trembley, who prompted galleries to revisit seminal exhibitions from the 1990s, highlighting key collaborations between dealers and artists that have had a lasting impact on contemporary art. This year, the theme comprises ideas and responses to Sex Work: Feminist Art & Radical Politics, curated by independent curator and scholar Alison Gingeras. Featuring women artists working at the extreme edges of feminist practice since the 1960s, and the galleries who supported them, highlights from the section include Galerie Andrea Caratsch with Betty Tompkins; Richard Saltoun with Renate Bertlmann and Salon 94 with Marilyn Minter. With transgressive ideals and expressive sentiments, the work uncover dialogues about gender and representation within the industry and offer an exciting array of names that have uncovered new territories within culture.

The diverse range of talks, events, performances and booths offers an all-encompassing four-day event that brings together industry canons and provided imaginative responses to the world around us through wholly reflective practices. As Victoria Siddall, Frieze Fairs Director, notes: “Frieze London is stronger than ever – from the emerging to the world’s most established – signifying that Frieze Week in this city continues to be a vital hub for international galleries. Following the fantastic reception received by The Nineties last year, I’m looking forward to another innovative, thought-provoking curated section, this time celebrating radical women artists as well as the ground-breaking role of their galleries.”

Ending on 8 October alongside the fair is Frieze Sculpture, a free outdoor display selected by Clare Lilley (Director of Programme, Yorkshire Sculpture Park). Held in Regents’ Park, 25 significant pieces highlight the world of 20th century masters working in three dimensional forms: Magdalena Abakanowicz, Rasheed Araeen, Urs Fischer, KAWS, Alicja Kwade, Michael Craig-Martin, Jaume Plensa, Thomas J Price, Ugo Rondinone, Sarah Sze, Hank Willis Thomas and Emily Young.

Frieze London runs 5-8 October in Regents’ Park. For more information: www.frieze.com

Credits:
1. Thomas Ruff, L’Empereur 06 (The Emperor 06), 1982. C-print, 30.2 × 40 cm, © the artist.