It is always such a treat to go to Frieze and I was delighted to read on the Royal Academy Instagram account that three of the recognisable trends they identified at Frieze this year were as follows:
Irony is out
The figurative work in the fair is colourful, uplifting, sometimes surreal and markedly sincere, often bordering on the sentimental
Nature is creeping in
Organic matter is seeping into sculptures. There’s a forest of plants, trees and fronds across the fair… mixed with the many lyrical landscape paintings on view, our fragile environment is never far from view.
In uncertain times, the art world is looking for an eye-bath
While we’re inundated with difficult images in the global media, at the fair abstract art abounds. The abstract work is full of ideas beneath their surface but also offers an eye-bath for the addled mind in challenging times."
These sentiments really resonate with me as much of my art work is inspired by the natural world. I have always been passionate about the use of colour in my paintings and many are abstract landscapes.
There was a lovely installation of blown up penguins which a little girl was thoroughly enjoying being in the midst of! I love the way that art has an extraordinary ability to take us back to our child like selves when all we looked for was the next thing that would give us fun.
I hit 50 this year and so many of my friends feel the same as I do in the sense that we have given up caring what other people think which makes us free to be ourselves and pursue the things we love.
Play is such a crucial part of art making, especially in the initial stages and I loved the way that this installation somehow made it into what some can feel an intimidating space. Just look at the difference between these two exhibition spaces.
Playing with penguins or this...
I know where I would rather be!
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