Frieze London Diary: A dinner dance with a twist, Barbie gets the blues and Grayson Perry’s feline showstoppers
Plus: artists educate at National Gallery and the hedonist returns
On a Thursday evening, the Frieze London tent buzzed with the presence of art world elites, including gallerists, patrons, and a handful of journalists. Esteemed figures like Aaron Cezar, the director of London’s Delfina Foundation, and Ed Behrens, the editor of Apollo magazine, mingled with other high-profile attendees. A sumptuous dinner awaited them, featuring dishes such as chicken, potato, and minestra nera, complemented by coffee fudge and chocolate truffles.
Conversations buzzed about various hot topics, such as the reception of the Tate Britain’s 90s art exhibition, while revelers indulged in Fortnum’s wines. A standout performance by UK choreographer Holly Blakey captivated guests as her troupe of dancers moved in and out of the dining room, causing one guest to nearly choke on his petits fours when the artists created a human tower that collapsed on purpose.
The Unexpected Views at the National Gallery marked its tenth anniversary with a stellar lineup of eight contemporary artists delivering ten-minute talks in front of their favorite paintings. Tschabalala Self selected Bronzino’s An Allegory with Venus and Cupid (circa 1545) to speak about, while Yinka Shonibare presented Thomas Gainsborough’s Mr and Mrs Andrews (circa 1750) for his discussion.
Meanwhile, Barbie is undergoing a subversive transformation at Frieze London this week. Helen Chadwick’s photopiece, Birth of Barbie (1993), depicts the iconic doll upside down, colored deep scarlet, and emerging from red meat folds, an image enhanced by Chadwick’s previous use of it as her Christmas card.
Throughout Frieze Masters, cats have become the center of attention, with Andy Warhol’s 16 offset lithographs from the series 25 Cats Name(d) Sam and One Blue Pussy (circa 1954) taking center stage. The intricate lettering was done by Warhol’s mother, Julia Warhola, who is also attributed to the missing “d” in the title. Grayson Perry found these feline masterpieces purrrfect, and John Banting’s solo show, Livid Cosmoramas, at John Swarbrooke Fine Art, as well as a new biography by Hugh St Claire, have garnered attention.
The annual fundraising gala saw a gathering of famous guests, including Grayson Perry and actor Isla Fisher. Additionally, perilous boulders at the fair and a celebrity showing in Knightsbridge added to the excitement. Meanwhile, an artist recreated their parents' home as a fair stand, and the city of London found itself needing even more pigeons and graffiti.
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