Northern Star: Ylva Ogland and Karl Holmquvist

This installation from Ylva Ogland and Karl Holmquvist formed an immersive environment at the Fruit and Flower Deli booth at the Armory Show. The Stockholm gallery was part of the Armory Focus: The Nordic Countries section. The pelts, tents, and star made me think of the nomadic Sami people of Lapland. (I wish I could find more information instead of just supplying my conjecture, but there is not much on the internet about this and I've lost my papers from the show.) Juxtaposed against these element were traditional "fine art" on the easel and the walls. Two large facing canvases mirror each other, and creating a dialogue between the naked woman and her twin.

Better image of the installation here. 

Carlos Garaicoa: White on White

Photo-topography, Carlos Garaicoa.  Galleria Continua at the Armory Show 2012.

It looked like styrofoam in person, but apparently artist Caralos Garaicoa transferred photographs to polyspan (I suspect a material a lot like styrofoam) to create these white images.

Garaicoa is a Cuban artist who tends to explore Cuba's identity and politics through its buildings. These archetectural scenes were clearly composed, but the precision of them crumbles away as you look closer.

Marilyn [sic] Monroe according to Philippe Parreno

Marilyn Monroe, in preparation of a spiritual tension (5 parts) is a new work by Phillipe Parreno that was on view at the Armory at the Pilar Corrias Gallery. I typically don't think words are used well in art pieces, but these are an exception. These dreamy images were beautifully done.

The Algerian-born artist lives and works in France. There's a nice interview with Parreno from 2010 in the Guardian that discusses the enviorment-based works he more typically creates. Objects like these drawings are rarer for him, and he says that "'Art is filled with things that aren't so much objects but quasi-objects.' What are they then? 'Objects whose existence is dependent on their context'." These drawings still suggest an involved story without the extensive environment he sometimes creates.

I saw more examples of the artist's work on the Pilar Corrias website, including these (involving penguins):

We might be soulmates. ;)

Mirror, Mirror, Everywhere: Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe

Mirrors were everywhere at the art fairs (Yes, I realize this is a belated post. Life is crazy. For regular posting to begin soon, offer me an awesome full-time marketing job, please.)

This installation by Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe at Marlborough Chelsea's booth at the Armory was my favorite of all the mirrors though, for the textured surfaces of the mirrors created by a layered printing process. They appeared rather like abstract, naturalistic watercolors despite the medium.

I also appreciated the setting; the artists also designed the wallpaper behind the mirrors, which feature a fractal-like pattern. The duo notably also created a whole environment for Bright White Underground in 2010 (great photos of this on The Selby).

Chalk and Pins at the Armory

A different use of chalk as a medium at the Armory. I'm on the train to Philadelphia at the moment for a work conference, so just a quick post. Chalk and pins L, 2010 by Pascale Marthine Tayou was up at the Galleria Continua booth at the Armory. More about the artist on the gallery's website. By the way, if you have a reccomendation about where to get a Philly cheese steak sandwich near the city center area, please let me know!

NYC Art Fairs Open Tomorrow

You can find me here for the next few days, trying to manage the art overload with coffee and cupcakes...

The Armory Show

www.thearmoryshow.com 

Pier 94

Twelfth Ave. at 55th St.

3/3-6 

Pulse

www.pulse-art.com

Metropolitan Pavilion

125 W. 18th St.

3/3-6 

Scope

www.scope-art.com

320 West Street

3/4-7 

Volta

www.voltashow.com

7W

7 W. 34th St.

3/3-6 

Independent

www.independentnewyork.com

Dia Center for the Arts

548 W. 22nd St.

3/3-6

These are my favorite shows (with the exception of the Armory, which is a must but really too much to be an enjoyment). What are your favorites? Anybody want to meet me out for a coffee and show?

Art Fair Trend: Writing on the Wall

Santiago Sierra, No, 2009

No more! Like a two tone, blown up, gaudy portrait of a celebrity's face is a tired take on Warhol, writing on the wall seemed like a similar convention by the end of the art fairs. I get it; it's convenient to spit out your message, sardonic, mocking or inscrutable as it may be, then let the peons wonder. But I am no longer impressed--the same goes for cars being put in galleries (Gabriel Orozco, whoever you were at Independent, and especially you, overhyped BHQF at the Whintey) and for the raven trope (be they stuffed, cast, molded, silhouettes, or talking.) Maybe it was the art fair atmosphere, but I lost the distinction between signage and art about a day into it.

Peter Liverside, Little By Little

Walter Robinson, Worth, 2010

Tracy Emin, I keep belonging in you

Ivan Capote, Autumn all fall

Steve Lambert, Money Laundered, 2010

Ryan Gander

So I suppose it's clear why Ryan Gander's piece at Armory, of busted up signage, appealed to me, despite myself, just a little bit. On the whole though, it's just become a boring way to convey something. All these photos were taken at Pulse and Armory on the last day of the fairs, when I was thoroughly sick of sayings, aphorisms, declarations etc, but Verge, Independent and Scope had their fair share. Does anyone else notice all the writing on the wall? What did you think of it?

Eye Candy: Piotr Uklanski at the Armory

Untitled, 2010

Piotr Uklanski is everywhere these days. The artist, whose contribution to the Whitney Biennial differed strongly, had this candy-colored piece up at the Armory. This large resin on aluminum image was not only as appealing as candy, but it managed to stick out of the Armory melee. It was part of a strong show from the Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, which is currently battling it out with the awesome Jack Shainman in my head for Armory gallery supremacy.

If you missed Uklanski's piece, never fear. Head to IKEA soon to see sculpture by the artist. Yep, that's right: IKEA.

This Weekend: Art Fairs NYC!

The art fairs have come to NYC! Doors open today.

All the galleries, their artists, dealers and art lovers will be out in full force. I've never gone to these before, but just looking at the weekend possibilities is overwhelming. There's so much to see, in fact, I'm afraid of catching Stendhal syndrome. Now, let me catch my breath before entering the whirl.

Here's how it breaks down:

• The Armory Show

12th Avenue at 55th Street, Pier 94, New York NY 10001 Tel: 1 212 6456440 E-mail: info@thearmoryshow.com Mar 4 - 8, 2009

• Bridge Art Fair

The Waterfront, 222 12th Avenue, New York NY 10001 Tel: 312-421-2227 E-mail: info@bridgeartfair.com Mar 4 - 8, 2009

• SCOPE

Lincoln Center, Damrosch Park, Corner of West 62nd Street and Amsterdam Ave, New York NY 10023 Tel: 1 212 2681522 E-mail: info@scope-art.com Mar 4 - 9, 2009

• PULSE

Pier 40, West Side Highway at West Houston Street, New York NY 10014 Tel: 212 255 2327 E-mail: info@pulse-art.com Mar 5 - 9, 2009

• VOLTA NY

7 W 34th St. at 5th Ave. New York, NY, 10001, USA Tel: +1.312.527.6026 Email: info@voltashow.com March 5-8

I am definitely going to Bridge and Volta, and the Williamsburg Gallery Association seems to be planning and all) and join some Salon friends on Sunday at Pulse. Will I do all this, plus go to a play and host a book club at my unfurnished apartment?


That remains to be seen, and then blogged about.