FIAC 2018: Top 10 Stands in a Downbeat Paris Art Fair
The 2018 edition of FIAC in Paris, held at the Grand Palais, was marked by a subdued atmosphere, with critics noting a lack of excitement compared to previous years. Despite this, the fair remains one of Europe's major autumn art events alongside Frieze London and Art Basel. The Grand Palais is set to close from 2020 to 2023 for renovations, raising concerns about the fair's future. Issues such as natural light affecting visibility and logistical challenges with two floors were highlighted. The article presents a selection of ten standout booths, including a solo show by Alicja Kwade at 303 Gallery, Giorgio de Chirico at Gmurzynska, Arthur Jafa at Gavin Brown's enterprise, Grayson Perry at Victoria Miro, Huma Bhabha at Salon 94, Katharina Grosse at Gagosian, a Chinese-focused booth at Pace Gallery, a Gutai group retrospective at Fergus McCaffrey, Derrick Adams at Anne de Villepoix, and a dual presentation by Irma Blank and Paolo Icaro at P420. The author, Marco Enrico Giacomelli, criticizes the fair's design section and calls for revitalization.
Key facts
- FIAC 2018 was held at the Grand Palais in Paris.
- The fair is considered one of Europe's top autumn art events.
- Grand Palais will close from 2020 to 2023 for renovations.
- Natural light issues affected visibility of video works.
- Logistical problems included lack of elevators between floors.
- Top booth: Alicja Kwade solo show at 303 Gallery.
- Gmurzynska presented Giorgio de Chirico in a fire station-themed booth.
- Gavin Brown's enterprise featured Arthur Jafa's 'Unbalanced Diptych'.
- Victoria Miro showed Grayson Perry's ceramics and tapestries.
- Salon 94 exhibited Huma Bhabha's totem and collages.
- Gagosian displayed Katharina Grosse's large installation 'Ingres Wood'.
- Pace Gallery focused on Chinese artists.
- Fergus McCaffrey presented a Gutai group retrospective.
- Anne de Villepoix showed Derrick Adams with orange-painted walls.
- P420 featured works by Irma Blank and Paolo Icaro.
- The author criticized the FIAC Design section as underwhelming.
Entities
Artists
- Alicja Kwade
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Arthur Jafa
- Grayson Perry
- Huma Bhabha
- Katharina Grosse
- Derrick Adams
- Irma Blank
- Paolo Icaro
- Kazuo Shiraga
- Toshio Yoshida
- Sadamasa Motonaga
- Akira Kanayama
- Alex Katz
- Alberto Burri
- Joan Miró
- Karl Lagerfeld
Institutions
- FIAC
- Grand Palais
- 303 Gallery
- Gmurzynska
- Gavin Brown's enterprise
- Victoria Miro
- Salon 94
- Gagosian
- Pace Gallery
- Fergus McCaffrey
- Anne de Villepoix
- P420
- Kamel Mennour
- Artribune
- Frieze
- Art Basel
- Villa Medici
Locations
- Paris
- France
- Grand Palais
- Zurich
- Switzerland
- New York
- United States
- Tokyo
- Japan
- Hong Kong
- China
- Beijing
- Rome
- Italy
- Bologna
- Venice