Entry to Frieze, (£27), entitles you to buy: a catalogue and a canvas bag; overpriced art books in the bookstore – and actual works of art, if you are gullible enough can afford them. You can also buy drinks/lunch/dinner in the designer café, or restaurant – all a bit of a scramble with so many to serve, but you’ll be able to mingle with St John’s Wood ladies, who have dressed down especially for the occasion.
Most importantly of all, entrance to the annual Regent’s Park based fair also provides admission to the Quintessential lifestyle:
There’s a Quintessentially desk at the entrance. Even for non members, the luxury concierge firm provides tours of the fair for £50 plus VAT per person per hour: “The Quintessentially Art team will be on hand throughout the fair offering you private tours through the various exhibits on show. With a personal advisor at your side, you will be able to converse directly with an expert about artists’ aesthetic and conceptual choices, which pieces would work best in your home and which could prove a sound investment in the future.”
If you want to do this on the cheap, why not opt for an Art Fund tour instead. For £14 you’ll be given: a pair of headphones so you can hear your guide above the din of the crowd – and a 30 day Art Fund pass for ‘free’ entry to museums and galleries (most of which are already free) plus “a chance to upgrade to a 12 month subscription before this one expires.” And you’ll get a real live artist, usually newly graduated, to show you around a personally curated selection of stands and works of art. Our group of 9 was led by Nathaniel, who being tall with a quiff, possessed the credentials of a perfect tour guide. Specializing in video art (see above), an impressive attribute was his curiously Sewellian vocabulary – a commonly used word being ‘pastiche.’
In another category altogether at Frieze, are those artists and buyers who share the Quinn-tessential lifestyle:
ES Magazine said Marc Quinn “can afford to do whatever he likes.” His kitsch 18 carat gold sculptures sell for around £10 million – his Kate Moss is up there with Warhol’s Marilyn Monroes and Cocoa Cola bottles. For the mass market, Quinn recently designed a range of T-shirts and temporary tattoos of flowers and praying skeletons, which are soon to be on sale at Selfridges.
Christian Jankowski has participated in one of the specially commissioned projects by Frieze curator, Sarah McCrory. In conjunction with luxury yacht company Riva, he’s designed a beautifully crafted launch (price tag 500,000 Euros). In true Boat Show style, the associated motor yacht is also for sale – Jankowski’s model of which, together with a dedicated yacht sales person, are also at the stand. The asking price is said to be 60 million Euros.
Peter Doig, painter of Down the River (see below), sells paintings from £1 million to over £6 million. Originally from Scotland, he moved to Trinidad in 2002.
Ashley Bickerton has been having a go at capitalist culture since the 1980s. He was born in Barbados, though has resided in Bali for the past two decades. His style has been referred to as ‘tropical surrealism.’
There are some inspirational works at Frieze, but if it’s gritty authenticity you’re looking for, you may wish to go elsewhere. More original, affordable and less crowded shows in London will be covered in future posts…
Last year, ResonanceFM broadcast live from Frieze (or FAF, as it really ought to call itself) and against my better judgement I was persuaded to do a little performance. To get to the Resonance stand I had to pass through much of the show and felt giddy with nausea. I was in a particularly foul mood and, having done my (live) piece, announced that I was almost certainly the poorest person present, suggesting the wealthy patrons may wish to toss me a few coins in recompense for my having entertained them. Total takings = £0.00. I vowed never to return.
Thanks for the report susan! Of your list above I must say that I do very much rate Peter Doig, but his prices are a teensy bit steep! Would it be amiss to suggest that in his instance the high prices are due to the dearth of decent ‘proper’ painters out there, meaning that (as in the case of lucien freud) anything he produces is leapt on by a ravenous pack of buyers all hankering after something that looks like ‘art’ and not like a flickering telly in the corner of a room – or indeed an ‘art yacht’ (emperor’s new clothes anyone..)
ps, Am I the only one that thinks the Doig picture you’ve supplied is in fact a portrait of Papa Lazaru from The League of Gentlemen? Daaaaave!
Whilst driving around Hyde Park Corner on Thursday I was cut up by a speeding silver limo with Frieze Art Fair livery. Urgent art appointment for very important people, no doubt.
Beautifully understated revulsion, Susan.
Thanks Gaw, and commiserations on le rugby…
I’m upset about the rugby. Like Mr Gatland (the coach) I feel hollow.
‘Beautifully understated revulsion, Susan’ May I add my +1 to that.
I agree Worm, Doig is certainly more palatable than some of the other exhibits at the show, though I’m not sure about this particular work. The blob of a figure reminded me rather of Bickerton’s blubbery blue biker below. I rather liked the characterful oil paintings by Lynette Yiadom-Boakye though.
Your feelings of nausea resonate, Frank – you have my deepest sympathy. Your slot was replaced this year by Michael Landy’s credit card destroying machine (which ironically started life at Louis Vuitton). I’m just wondering what works of art will be worth once all the credit has been crunched… Are Marc Quinn’s sculptures actually worth their weight in gold? How much copper cabling might there be in and around Regent’s Park? Will it be possible to exchange a Doig for a wheelbarrow?
Omg Gaw, I have a silver car. Perhaps I should destroy it immediately?
Thanks for the +1 Jonathon. x
Cocoa Cola?
I am repulsed and strangely attracted.
Authentic, retroprogressive cool, David. Perhaps it should be renamed?
PS I could even do the re-branding in curiously cost-effective style…