London Art Fair

Boo Ritson, Pink 2007, c Alan Cristea, Courtesy Alan Cristea Gallery

On Tuesday, The London Art Fair launched the 2008 art scene in style. In its 20th year, the fair showcases collections from over 100 galleries including established names ( such as Henry Moore and Gavin Turk ) and emerging talent and photography - and promises to cater for all tastes and budgets.

But although there is plenty to like from Pop Art inspired work, artists experimenting in new media and beautiful, intricate sculptures and installations there was little that stirred the emotions on any deep level.

The reason, perhaps, is that this really is the art fair for everyone, with visitors including established art dealers to first time buyers, city boys to famous footballers, footballers' wives, and even footballers' kids running around trying to climb on the sculptures.

On the one hand,  this is one of London Art Fair's best features:  showing art for every purse and making it accessible.
The Arts Council's Own art scheme means that you can even take out an interest free loan to invest in your favourite piece.

But whilst this 'something for everyone' idea is great financially, I fear it may have begun to undermine the art itself.
There's a very fine line between 'art for everyone' and 'art for anyone’ which is not to take a snobbish view, but, having something pretty to hang in your living room isn’t necessarily what good art should be about.
Is it?
Surely, art is about pushing boundaries, transforming ideas, commenting on life.

That said, there was lots to like, albeit in a “ ooh, nice and shiny! “ way.

Even the piece by Tracey Emin, (queen of controversy ) failed to provoke any reaction in me.  It was sold for £6,500 at the special auction, held in aid of the Terrence Higgins Trust.  Other auctioned works included a Mario Testino, Sam Taylor-Wood and Julian Opie.
Tim Shaw's Man on Fire bearing the words
 What God of love inspires such hate in the hearts of men ? came closer to reaching a deeper level, allbeit with little subtlety.

 I had hopes of being moved by something in Photo 50, but was again a little disappointed by the photographs on show.
Perhaps I'm asking too much.

And many would suggest that art isn’t always about being in your face, shocking, controversial or emotive.
Hey, what’s wrong with looking nice and happy ‘art as escapism’?
And maybe that’s the point.

Art is a reflection of society, and what we look for right now is glamour, beauty, money, lifestyle, irony, knowingness, with a dash of meaning and maybe a ( not too ) challenging slant.

Is there a place with today’s buyers for something like, for example Munch's The Scream  that gave me an indescribably harrowing feeling the first time I saw it?

But this isn’t to undermine the talent on show at the London Art Fair,  and, indeed, there is plenty of great work on show, particularly in the Art Projects ( showing emerging artists )  room.

Here I discovered the unmissable work of Su Blackwell, who creates incredibly intrictate works of art entirely out of paper, popping out from between the pages of books.
Tiny paper houses lit from within by miniature light bulbs give these pieces a deliciously fairytale feel.

Vanessa Donoso Lopez also indulges in work that echoes the fantasies of childhood.
Tiny dancing dolls rotating in tea cups lined the walls of her project space.
As she explains;’ I use the figure of a child as a metaphor for the adult and also for the artist who leads a life of imagination and illusion.'

I also really liked the hand printed and collaged manuscripts of Sandy Sykes, her words themselves as carefully composed as their presentation.

Artists' work from the galleries was largely  aimed at the post Andy Warhol/ Roy Lichtenstein generation.
 Boo Ritson's painted rows of burgers will doubtless fly off the wall almost as quickly as the few original Warhols also on sale.
The Pop Art collage seemed to have been inspiration for numerous artists, including Ray Richardson, David Spiller, Colin Brown, Stephen Cambell and Vincent Poole, whose silhouettes created from black and white magazines were inspiring.

For those genuinely interested in starting your own art collection, there are also a number of informative talks scheduled, including Start your Collection! and 'The Art Fund Debate: The Value of Art – What’s Behind the Price Tag?

For those of us less likely to find ourselves able to bag an Emin, the show still acts as a great exhibition of modern British and international talent.

Its also one of the best opportunities for the Art World to ogle at the artists, dealers and buyers of the moment, plus of course, a chance to spot the Next Big Thing.
But if you're looking for something to really challenge and move, you may have to look elsewhere.

Katie Antoniou

The Next Big Things


Emily Young
You can't miss her enormous stone sculpture outside the entrance to the fair. She recently showed her work in the crypt of St Pancras Parish Church, where even the stoniest of hearts couldn't fail to be moved.

Boo Ritson
As well as the Pop Art inspired burgers,he paints stuff. I mean, he actually paints it. Check out his painted people (real life models covered in paint) Weird and entirely impractical, so celebs will probably love it.

Denis Darzacq
He photographs people seemingly suspended in mid air. A little eerie.

Su Blackwell
Enchanting bookscapes

Ed Hodgkinson
His silhouettes and sketched outlines are the height of sexy  cool.

London Art Fair, Business Design Centre, Upper Street, London, N1 until January 20th
Start Your Collection talk :  3-4pm on the 19th, The Art Fund Debate: The Value of Art – What’s Behind the Price Tag?
3-4pm on the 18th
www.londonartfair.co.uk

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