Frieze London 2017: Superflex Triumphs, Focus Section Disappoints
The 2017 Frieze art week in London garnered a variety of opinions. Frieze London, Frieze Masters, and Frieze Sculpture thrived, with Masters receiving accolades for its exceptional booths. Notable exhibitions featured Jasper Johns at the Royal Academy, Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Barbican Centre, Rachel Whiteread at Tate Britain, Pink Floyd at the V&A, and Thomas Ruff at the Whitechapel Gallery. The collateral fairs 1:54 and Moniker provided innovative viewpoints. Mayfair galleries presented impressive shows, such as Gino De Dominicis at Luxembourg & Dayan and Tom Wesselman at Gagosian/Almine Rech. Superflex's 'One Two Three Swing!' installation at Tate Modern stood out. However, the atmosphere lacked the experimental energy of prior years, influenced by Brexit uncertainty, and the Focus section for emerging galleries was lacking. The Ilya and Emilia Kabakov exhibition debuted on October 18, missing the art week.
Key facts
- Frieze London, Frieze Masters, and Frieze Sculpture ran concurrently in 2017.
- Frieze Masters was praised for high-quality stands.
- Jasper Johns had a comprehensive retrospective at Royal Academy.
- Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibited at Barbican Centre.
- Rachel Whiteread showed at Tate Britain.
- Pink Floyd exhibition at V&A attracted large audiences.
- Thomas Ruff exhibited at Whitechapel Gallery.
- 1:54 fair for African contemporary art had its fifth edition at Somerset House.
- Moniker fair focused on urban-street art at Old Truman Brewery.
- Superflex's 'One Two Three Swing!' was installed at Tate Modern Turbine Hall.
- The Focus section of Frieze London was considered weak.
- Standout Focus galleries included Jan Kaps, Emanuel Layr, Blank projects, and Frutta gallery.
- Ilya and Emilia Kabakov exhibition opened October 18, after art week.
- Sunday fair in Marylebone underperformed.
- PAD luxury fair was criticized for kitsch.
- Brexit uncertainty dampened the experimental atmosphere.
Entities
Artists
- Sir Peter Blake
- Jasper Johns
- Jean-Michel Basquiat
- Rachel Whiteread
- Thomas Ruff
- Gino De Dominicis
- Francesco Vezzoli
- Giorgio de Chirico
- Jean Dubuffet
- Marcel Broodthaers
- Tom Wesselman
- Hugo Canoilas
- TJ Wilcox
- Superflex
- Tobias Spichtig
- Lili-Reynaud Dewar
- Billie Zangewa
- Federico Vavassori
- Ilya Kabakov
- Emilia Kabakov
Institutions
- Frieze
- Frieze London
- Frieze Masters
- Frieze Sculpture
- Royal Academy
- Barbican Centre
- Tate Britain
- Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A)
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Somerset House
- Old Truman Brewery
- Luxembourg & Dayan
- Nahmad Projects
- Pace Gallery
- Hauser & Wirth
- Gagosian
- Almine Rech
- Workplace gallery
- Sophia Contemporary
- Sadie Coles
- Tate Modern
- Hyundai
- Hyundai Commission
- Emanuel Layr
- Jan Kaps
- Blank projects
- Frutta gallery
- Phillips de Pury
- PAD
- Sunday
- Artribune
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Mayfair
- Marylebone
- Colonia
- Germany
- Somerset House
- Old Truman Brewery
- Tate Modern
- Tate Britain
- Royal Academy
- Barbican Centre
- Whitechapel Gallery
- Victoria and Albert Museum