Islington Art and Design Fair 2008
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So the Islington Contemporary Art and Design Fair came and went and always we have a short wrap up of the show.
About the show itself it was housed in a large old brick building in north east London. There was a bohemian café a court yard used for art bazaars and fairs and two floors used for the Islington Art Fair. I was on the second floor in the very middle of the show. It became apparent that Candid arts is involved with all sorts of things and very active for which they should be commended. I actually got to speak with one member of the board who personally thanked me for being involved with the show and said “it is great to have an artist of such standing and talent at the show.” This could have alone made my evening but having sold two of the paintings earlier that same night, and staring out at huge crowds at the opening, combined to make me feel that I had done the right thing to try London out and in truth made my year.
Check out the great database of artists that Candid has worked with
www.candidarts.com/candid_arts_trust.htm
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| my display space at Islington 2008 |
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| Opening Night Islington Art and Design Fair 2008 |
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| The artists
First off there were about 55 artists mostly from London with a few international visiting exhibitors. That said it should be noted that there are folks from all over the place that live within London as it has grown to be a very multicultural international city. So added to the ranks of the Brits were a Danish, Finnish, Indian, Italian, Cuban, Russian, and two artists from Bangladesh. So as an American living in Switzerland I was an oddity but not that out of place. The folks themselves were wonderful, chatty, friendly, and overall positive. There was a mix of several recent students, first time exhibitors and old veterans of the art world.
The work
Like the vast range of ages personalities and nationalities the skill level and style of the art was likewise varied.
There were nightmarish, surreal, cartoonish, commercial, sappy, aggressive, half baked and masterful works at the show. Some of the artists created stuff that simply blew me away others were clearly still trying to gather their skills or find their style. Overall I think the show was good and there was little that smacked of blatant hobby or commercial art.
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| Martin's wall sadly I lost his contact info great guy. |
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Below are a few names worth checking out.
Sarah Smiley
Sarah has real sunny personality fitting her name she produces works that exist somewhere between sculptures and painting with their thick application of material and tactile appeal. She confined in me that she did in fact produce some of them by pushing her fingers through the paint to produce deep grooves and rises that jut out at the viewer. Though playful at first glance and almost childlike a deeper investigation reveals other layers to the work and a feeling that they are a kind of pictographic language and deeply expressive.
It was great fun hanging out with her and we wish her the all best. To check her out:
www.sarahsmiley.co.uk
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| Works from Rob and Rahman Dewan-Syed |
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| Rob and Rahman Dewan-Syed
Rob is a charismatic and genial fellow who is eager to produce exhibit and get to know other artist in a way that energizing. Many of the artists seemed bored or let down by the show not Rob he was convinced we could make an international group of artists and take on the world. I hope we can in the meantime check out his balanced and thoughtful work.
www.Dewan-syedbros.com
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Jayne Sandys-Renton
Jayne is producing some of the richest works I have seen in a long while, mysterious, erotic, moody, and lush. She was one of the artists that raised the bar of the show and made me proud to be a part of it. She is creating world class work and I feel certain I will hear of her again.
www.jstudio.co.uk
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| Two of Jayne's rich large format works that make me hope I can learn to paint one day. |
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Nicola Anthony
Nicola Anthony was another wonderful person that was always a joy to see and her art reflects her positive nature. See makes amazing works of hand crafted glass that are truly something new.
www.nicolaanthony.co.uk/gallery.html
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Michael Barr
Michael is an impressive person in that he is a very intelligent and unassuming person. His art is at times aloof as if an inside joke we aren’t meant to understand but it (like much of the cutting edge contemporary art around) begs and necessitates thoughtful analysis. It isn’t that what Michael does is going to appeal to a fair crowd or even to a large audience at all it exists for itself both conceptually and physically. You as the viewer are required to go to the art and seek it out it isn’t going to grab you from the wall and appeal to you to stare at. Once the sensitive and open do make the journey to his work they are not disappointed there is indeed a mysterious and compelling quality to his work which I feel fits to his personality. I greatly enjoyed getting to chat with him on a few occasions and am sure is going on to be one of the greats of the London scene.
www.michaelbarr.co.uk
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Victoria Helmer Jensen
www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk
There were a few more I wanted to feature so if I spoke with you send me your information so that I can augment the wrap up, but sadly a few cards were lost between here and London (especially you Camillia).
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| The lovely Camile and her work. Sadly I lost her contact info so as soon as she sends it I will add it here. We had some great discussions and I hope to meet up with her again. |
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