Frieze London October 2014: Highlights

Frieze London 2014 preview

After the fair’s redesign last year, which streamlined the number of galleries and created larger public areas for the hordes of visitors, Frieze 2014 features 160 galleries from 30 different countries and  continues to focus on bold, statement artworks which aren't necessarily big sellers on the art market. 

Frieze London 2013 review
Last year the art world was buzzing around Jeff Koons’ ‘Cat on a Clothes line’ and other bright sculptures lurking on the Gagosian stand, which were so expensive that prices weren't even released to the press. Other big hitters were Jennifer Rubell’s ‘Self Portrait’ at the Stephen Friedman stand, an enormous hollow sculpture which visitors could crawl into, and the ‘Groovy Spiral’ glass pavilion from Lisson which provided a calm place for reflection. Other stand out moments were Grayson Perry’s pots with primitive men at Victoria Miro and Ken Okiishi’s robot paint shooter. 

Frieze London 2014 exhibitors: which stands to visit
Waste no time and visit Martin Creed at the Galerie Rüdiger Schöttle stand, who won the Turner Prize, 2001 for his light switching on and off. Also check out abstract painter Mark Grotjahn’s experiments with Tabwa masks at the Anton Kern Gallery, and Goshka Macuga at Kate MacGarry. Head over to  Pilar Corrias  to see the work of Korean artist  Koo Jeong A , and if you have time visit the gallery’s  Eastcastle Street  base to see an exhibition from acclaimed  French artist Philippe Parreno . For a full list of the galleries exhibiting click here. 

Frieze LIVE 2014: what performance art to see
This year it is all about performance art with the new ‘Live’ initiative across the fair. Make sure you see Robert Breer's recreation of a work from the 1970s World’s Fair in Osaka that makes viewers feel as if they are moving in slow motion when in reality that are static, and an invitation from Franz Erhard Walther to visitors to interact with objects according to a series of instructions. Also look out for tastings of UNITED BROTHERS’ home cooked soup made from Fukushima’s vegetables, the ‘vacationing’ environment by Tamara Henderson and Adam Linder’s ‘Choreographic service No. 2’ which will be available for hire by the hour. 

Frieze Artist Award 2014
Also new this year is the exciting  Frieze Artist Award which invites artists to create a new site-specific work for the fair. Inaugural winner Mélanie Matranga, who tries to express the emotional and economic value behind the production of her work, will create a series of online videos that follow the lives of a young couple, as well as design a purpose-built cafe. 

Frieze Sculpture Park London and Frieze London Focus: which emerging galleries to see
Returning this year are the fantastic Frieze Sculpture Park and Frieze Focus Section which highlights emerging galleries. Make a beeline for this section to buy special editions and multiples from renowned British and International artists like Marina Abramovic, featured in this year’s Allied Editions Frieze collaboration between Camden Arts Centre, Chisenhale Gallery, ICA, Serpentine Galleries, South London Gallery, Studio Voltaire and Whitechapel Gallery. Featured new galleries to keep an eye on are Callicoon Fine Arts (New York), Frutta (Rome), Antoine  Levi (Paris); Gregor Staiger (Zurich); Galleria Stereo (Warsaw) and Leo Xu Projects (Shanghai)

Frieze Projects 2014 London: which commissions to see
There are seven specially conceived commissions by Frieze Projects this year which focus on the intersection between various disciplines and different institutions across London and the UK. One not to miss is Nick Mauss’ ‘living stage’ where a new ballet will be performed every day like a continuously ongoing rehearsal. We are also excited to see Tobias Madison’s translation of visitors’ movements into light, Cerith Wyn Evans’s performance at London Zoo and Isabel Lewis’ performed ‘occasions’ throughout London which challenge the roles of ‘guest’ and ‘host’. 

Frieze Masters London 2014: which stands to visit
Now in its third year, we mustn't forget about the increasingly popular and influential, Frieze Masters. Compared to its contemporary cousin, this smaller fair has an amazing range of work from Ancient Greece all the way up to 2000 and is comparatively cheap, with a previously unknown Brueghel last year selling for only £6 million.
Returning to this year’s plethora of stands is Helly Nahmad, the Mayfair gallery which wowed crowds in 2012 with its Alexander Calder mobiles and gentle salsa tunes. At $20 million, Calder’s ‘Triumphant Red’ was one of the most expensive objects at the fair. 

The Other Art Fair, London
Also worth a visit is The Other Art Fair at The Old Truman Brewery, a unique platform for unrepresented artists to exhibit their work and for the public to discover emerging artists or even the next Tracey Emin. With free seminars and exciting classes in taxidermy and 3-D printing, the fair is not only about selling, but connecting individuals and helping to launch artists into the contemporary art world. There are also delicious Sloe Gin cocktails and snacks by The Breakfast Club at the Garden Cafe to nourish you during your visit.

There are several satellite fairs surrounding Frieze. Christies' MULTIPLIED is another one of our favourites, alongside the 1.54 African Art Fair at Somerset House.