After Frieze and Anti-Frieze I am Neither Coming Nor Going

Wednesday 13th October 2010

Frieze Art Fair

Frieze Art Fair

Well, the stock market rose 80 points, presumably on the massive swell and fatness of world-renowned Frieze Contemporary Art Fair, which opened today in London. I’ve been in that Zara suitlette all afternoon for my assault on what turned out to be the lesser private view. The collectors’ and VIP view was at 11 a.m, starring the Multis and Grayson Perry, of course (see graph below). The Blond Multi is off work for Frieze. He’s very driven, can’t bear not to be taking an exam of some kind, even if it’s Grade One Piano. So this is breathtaking.  Right now, he’s at the Ivy for Frieze.

But last night I was at Eddie Sedgewick’s studio with Robert Nevil. He has been adapting postcards (see graph below) and, for £45, you can chose from a selection – if you’re lucky enough to be invited to the viewing that is. They’re all remarkable. He’s done another series of the Senate House, that hideous building, but now re-seen in silver and purple. Those are £450 each.

Eddie’s taking an interest in a young man who makes sculpture out of dead salmon and vaginal shapes in neon which also look like people and talks sexy about Spanish girls and the effect of feeling their silicone implants.

So, the lives of artists – the making and continuing and complete lack of 9 to 5.

We agree with Lucian Freud: neglect is preferable. He knew it, for twenty years. Much better to be against rather than with, outside than in.

My own craving is to be minor.

Frieze Art Fair is something else. Air of menace. Some of these rich could be killers. Not the darling Multis, of course. I’m there with a rellie from Bath. In the street outside there’s an enormous black BMW whose odd white flashing lights, such as not seen on any other car,  seem to cause it to move off towards the picking-up place. We think it must have been its owners calling for it. Inside all the dealers, including Lady Helen Taylor (I was going to say, Granny: the Queen, but HM is not her granny but some sort of cousin. Tiresome) look vampirised, zombie-fied, shadow of former shelves from being charming to the rich. Although a lot of them are absolutely whackarama themselves but I suppose they’ve got to stay that way.

Almost all the wares on offer are utter rubbish. There’s just the tiniest slither of glory. We loved an Alice Neel portrait at the David Zwirner Gallery. $400,000. She was a communist in the 30s and only recognised late in life. All the same I don’t suppose she ever knew $400,000. I say as much to the glossy young man who relayed the price. He looked disgusted.

But let’s not be sour. As I said to my rellie, we’d pay $400,000, if we had it, to have in absolute possession a beautiful thing.  Better to be forking for that than machine guns.

Indeed I’m hardly one to speak. I’ve been acquiring, in my own small way, I’ve been having my own mini-Frieze. I’ll tell you all about it.

Eddie Sedgewick's Postcard with Collage - a Gem

Eddie Sedgewick's Postcard with Collage - a Gem

Eddie Sedgewick's Beckham Stigmata Postcard

Eddie Sedgewick's Beckham Stigmata Postcard

Eager Arrival Direct from Airport for 11am Frieze Collectors' Private View

Eager Arrival Direct from Airport for 11am Frieze Collectors' Private View

Yes!  It's Him! Being Graphed Being Graphed at Frieze

Yes! It's Him! Being Graphed Being Graphed at Frieze

New Kusama

New Kusama

Posted Wednesday, October 13, 2010 under Adrian Edge day by day.

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