Art Fair Season in New York: Armory, Independent, and ADAA Highlights for March 2014

The Armory Show in early March 2014 features a curated section on China, including works by Zhao Zhao at Chambers Fine Art. Zhao, once an assistant to Ai Weiwei, has faced imprisonment by authorities, adding a layer of political authenticity to his art. At the Independent fair, Norwegian sculptor Yngve Holen presents mysterious assemblages about planes and sides of meat at the Neue Alte Bruecke and Gio Marconi stand, following a January show at London's Modern Art. 303 Gallery marks Ad Reinhardt's 100th birthday at ADAA 'The Art Show' with works by Jacob Kassay, who draws inspiration from Reinhardt. The 2014 Whitney Biennial offers an alternative to the fair circuit, showcasing curatorially validated works like those by New Yorker Uri Aran, who created pieces during a summer residency in Peckham for a show at the South London Gallery. Chicago artist Diego Leclery, known for performance art such as dressing as a polar bear at The Suburban, is another figure to watch. The author plans to visit feminist collective-owned bookstore Bluestockings in New York for post-queer South Asian poetry. The art market revival, driven by wealth from figures like George Osborne and international buyers in Mayfair, fuels collecting interest, with the author traveling via BA Club World business class from London to New York for the fairs.