The weirdest and most wonderful artistic inspiration from around the globe, all gathered together in a tent: it’s that time of year again. As Frieze returns to London for its 15th year bringing together in ingenious and the incongruous in a showcase of more than 160 leading galleries from 31 countries, the exhibition continues to lure visitors in their thousands.
Among this year’s highlights, Ralph Rugoff from the Hayward Gallery curated the very first Frieze Talks, with presentations from many artists and performers, including Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster and Nástio Mosquito.
Leading international galleries such as Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian and Regen Projects make a welcome return while 2017 brings newcomers including Blank Projects from Cape Town, South Africa, and Revolver Galeria from Lima, Peru, both adding to the breadth of international talent throughout the exhibition.
A new section for 2017 was curated by the independent expert Alison M Gingeras and is titled Sex Work: Feminist Art & Radical Politics. It featured work from nine female artists who worked on the feminist issue in the 1970s and 1980s. “This special section of Frieze pays homage to artists who transgressed sexual mores, gender norms and the tyranny of political correctness and were frequently the object of censorship in their day,” says Gingeras.
Another themed exhibition this year is the thought-provoking ‘BRONZE AGE c. 3500 BC – AD’ 2017’. Hauser & Wirth has partnered with renowned classicist, Mary Beard, creating a fictional presentation from a forgotten museum with artefacts shown from various UK museums and collections including work from artists such as Louise Bourgeois and Henry Moore.
The Frieze Artist Award went to Kiluanji Kia Henda who became the first African to receive the award. His performative installation took place throughout the duration of the show.
Over at Frieze Masters, one must-see original installation at Waddington Custot this year offers an intimate insight into the working space – and process – of Sir Peter Blake, whose extraordinary studio has been recreated as an exhibit.
Amazing installations abound throughout the capital too, with a stunning collection by Rachel Whiteread in collaboration with Galleria Lorcan O’Neill at the artist’s retrospective in Tate Britain until 21 January 2018.
