With copious art events to choose from this season, we decided to create a handy list of the top five global arty events we recommend.
I.
Event: Vienna Contemporary
Dates: September 21st to September 24th
Venue: Marx Halle | Vienna Karl-Farkas-Gasse 19, 1030 Vienna
Vienna insider, Itai Margula has declared Vienna Contemporary, “a must see in the Viennese art calendar”! This year the fair includes 110 galleries and cultural institutions from 27 different countries and will present the art of over 500 artists. It is precisely this international aspect of the fair that makes it a must for Itai. He told us, “offering an intriguing selection of contemporary art in Central and Eastern Europe together with an exquisite set of Austrian and international galleries, the fair has gained the reputation of bridging the East and the West.”
“A highlight of the program is ZONE1, an established format showcasing the work of young artists” explained Itai. The ten artists selected for ZONE1 are all below the age of 40 and were either born or educated in Austria. Of the artists highlighted this year, Itai recommends seeing the work of Kay Walkowiak (Zeller van Almsick Gallery), “whose sculptural objects open up a choreography of references on the canon of forms of 20th-century painting”, and Samuel Schaab (Unttld Contemporary), “who developed a performative installation especially for ZONE1.”
© viennacontemporary / A. Murashkin
II.
Event: Fiac (International Contemporary Art Fair)
Dates: October 19th to October 22nd
Venue: Grand Palais | Avenue Winston Churchill 75008 Paris | and other venues
Our Paris insider, Judith Souriau, couldn't be more ready for Fiac and the exciting energy it brings to the city! "The Fiac week is bursting with events and parties", Judith explained, "and both galleries and museums keep their best shows for that time of year. If you’re into modern and contemporary art it’s definitely the best time to visit Paris". This year Fiac will feature around 180 galleries within the Grand Palais which include both established major galleries and the emerging generation. The Lafayette Sector is best for those visitors inclined towards the younger generation of gallerists, as it was created to seek out and promote galleries who have existed for ten years or less.
The majority of the fair will be held within the Grand Palais however make sure to explore the Hors les murs (outside the walls) programmes free of cost in the Jardin des Tuileries, Place Vendôme, and Musée Delacroix. Judith is also looking forward to going beyond the walls of the Grand Palais, she said, "I can’t wait to put on my sneakers and walk not only the Fiac but smaller fairs such as Paris Internationale and Asia Now that bring to town the very best of international contemporary art galleries."
Galerie du Secteur Général: Kohn Gallery / Artiste: Lita Albuquerque / Titre de l'oeuvre: Fibonacci Lunar Activation / Année: 2017 / ©the artiste and Kohn Gallery
III.
Event: Frieze London
Dates: October 5th to October 8th
Venue: Regent's Park
“Frieze week is my favourite time of year" our London insider, Marine Tanguy gushed, "I am very much looking forward to seeing the stand of Blum & Poe gallery as it's one of my favourite Los Angeles galleries and Frieze is a great opportunity to visit international art galleries on your doorstep." While Frieze London focuses exclusively on contemporary art Frieze Masters, which is running simultaneously to Frieze London, includes international modern and historical galleries.
BIRGIT JÜRGENSSEN, UNTITLED (BODY PROJECTION) (1988/2009) / https://www.galeriewinter.at/en/
IV.
Event: Warsaw Gallery Weekend
Dates: September 22nd to September 24th
Venue: Various Galleries
2017 marks the seventh year of Warsaw Gallery Weekend, a three day activity-packed fair organized by private galleries in the city showcasing contemporary art. The gallery scene in Warsaw is fairly young which makes this fair all the more exciting as the city comes into its own in the art world. Included in the event are two galleries that came to prominence early in the emerging Warsaw scene during the late nineties, Foksal Gallery Foundation and Raster Gallery. Make sure to stop by Raster Gallery on September 22nd for the opening of a show of Mika Tajima’s work called AIR, which coincides with the opening night of Warsaw gallery weekend.
With 26 galleries throughout the city participating this year we asked our Warsaw insider, Zuzanna Zasacka, to tell us where to start! Zuzanna shared what she’s most excited about, “I am already looking forward to see Wilhelm Sasnal at Foksal Gallery Foundation, Katarzyna Przezwańska at Dawid Radziwszewski Gallery and Odile Bernard Schroeder at Pola Magnetyczne.”
V.
Event: The Jerusalem Biennale
Dates: October 1st to November 16th
Venue: Various Venues
The 2017 Jerusalem Biennale's title is Watershed, a word which "can be used as a metaphor to help us think about ourselves and the way we split and converge as individuals and groups". The Biennale is primarily interested in exploring the intersections of the Jewish world and contemporary art. We are excited to see how over 200 artists from Israel, Europe, the U.S, Russia and even India explore this theme.
The juxtaposition of contemporary art within the context of the ancient city of Jerusalem makes this Biennale truly unique. Oh-So-Arty Jerusalem insider, Jenna Romano, said the Biennale "is bigger than ever, and this year features... 27 exhibitions at 8 diverse venues through out the city." One of those unique venues is the Tower of David, a structure dating to the Ottoman Empire.
Dawn/ Hila Ben-Ari /2011
Thumbnail Photo: Gerard & Kelly, State Of © Gerard & Kelly