18/01/2002
by Emma Saunders

The Fourteenth London Art Fair (of contemporary art) opened to the public on January the 16^th at the Business Design Centre in Islington, in the north central zone of the city. This event is an excellent opportunity to view one hundred leading galleries in Contemporary British art including major institutions such as White Cube, Marlborough Fine Art, The Whitechapel Gallery, Agnews (traditionally a 19^th century paintings seller, but who opened a contemporary sales department last year), Alan Cristea and Bernard Jacobson. Also many younger and innovative galleries are represented who offer a strong cross section of new movements. The Fair includes the ‘Start’ section which is aimed specifically at cutting edge galleries showing their latest ‘up and coming’ talents. In addition this year is the first time that contemporary US galleries are involved in the show, which has been running since 1993. This novelty is all the more peculiar bearing in mind the September 11^th tragedy and a series of fair postponements in the States. Three young New York galleries are here – Dinaburg Arts LLC, founded in 1993 by artist Mary Dinaburg who are showing works by Monique Prieto, Lisa Ruyter, Jay Davis and Spencer Tunick; Leo Koenig Inc, (who lost his downtown Manhattan gallery in the WTC terrorist attack) are showing two sculptural works by Tony Matelli (priced between $ 25,000-27,000, € 28,380-30,650), while Team, who specialize in film and video art, have Slater Bradley as one of their leading names at the fair, along with video artworks by Brice Dellsperger.

The Whitechapel are this year’s selectors of the ‘East End Focus’ section and hence there is an emphasis on local galleries from this geographical side of the UK capital: the Chisenhale Gallery, The Showroom, Acme studios and Space studios are thus on show. Last year it was the Tate who made the choices but the decision to have the Whitechapel Gallery as selector would suggest that a greater level of faith in the "young-Turks" of British art. The Whitechapel is selling an interesting selection of specially commissioned watercolours and prints by major artists including Edward Allington, Tony Bevan, Ian Davenport, Tracey Emin, Mark Francis, David Leapman, Julian Opie, Grayson Perry, Rachel Whiteread and Paul Winstanley. And there are some recommended bargains: For example, framed copies of Mark Wallinger’s Unicorn limited edition print are available at $ 325 (€ 286).

Many works by modern masters can be found, such as "traditional modern" galleries like Crane Kalman and Marlborough, with works by Bridget Riley, Kenneth Noland, William Scott, Patrick Heron, Leon Kossoff and more recent major artists such as Paula Rego and Craigie Aitchison. As expected, White Cube has recent offerings by Damien Hirst (a new "spot" painting in pastel shades), Tracey Emin, Mona Hatoum as well as Gilbert and George. The prices range from $ 143 (€ 162) to over $ 143,450 (€ 162,870) , however the majority fall within the $ 717 to $ 14,320 (€ 815-16,300) bracket which makes the fair attractive to collectors at all levels.

The Adam Gallery, stand G4 have a superb oil on board by the young Taiwanese artist Hsiao-Mein Lin for $ 12,200 (€ 13,850), a large abstract work of startling immediacy and freshness. The Market Gallery in the ‘Start’ section, Stand A3 has paintings by Roland Hicks for $ 2,870-3,000 (€ 3,260-4,300), with these works focusing on banal and domestic subject matter, such as Can we start again?, a painted still-life showing an opened washing up liquid bottle, resting on its side. The Eagle Gallery, Stand 23 has subtle minimalist works by Iranian born artist Manijeh Hall from $ 1,150 (€ 1,300) for a small work, sized approx 20 x 15 cm, while Gallery Gf2, Mezzanine level Stand 16, has minimalist work by Onya McCausland. These delicate works start from $ 2,870 (€ 3,260), while Rachel Lancaster’s "close-up" facial images are also available at $ 2,870 (€ 3,260).

Although the London Art Fair does not have the international flavour of Basel or Chicago, it remains the most significant contemporary British Art Fair, serving as a platform for new movements and investment opportunities in emerging artists and recognized names, with last year’s show recording a turnover of $ 17 million in one week (€ 19,3 million). The Fair is open until Sunday 20th January, 2002.