“Selfies, curators, crowds, money, Instagram, Twitter, tax advantages, VIPs, warm champagne”. The Libération’s sarcastic review on the Fiac international contemporary art fair, published on the eve of the opening of its 42nd edition, was also quite pessimistic. The publication criticized the fair fatigue experienced by the participants of the international circuit of art fairs, which is led by Art Basel, Frieze and FIAC, a phenomenon of exhaustion that has affected gallery owners, who have become more “dissident” every year.
The Parisian fair, ended with a positive “triple” balance according to its organizers: “Exceptional sales, an enthusiastic attendance and critics.” Well, not so much. Public attendance increased between 2013 and 2014, and reached over 74 thousand visitors, but in this 42nd edition it dropped to about 72 thousand people. However, artnet News says that Jennifer Flay’s decision as director of the event, to reduce the number of galleries from 191 in 2014 to 173 this year, which are now selected under stricter criteria, resulted in a more special selection of works and “robust sales”.
The fair organizers pointed out the success of the French gallery Thaddaeus Ropac, who sold all the works on display at the event, including pieces by Georg Baselitz and Antony Gormley. According to artsy, the White Cube made nearly 1 million pounds (US$ 6 million) on its opening day with the sale of works by Mona Hatoum and Baselitz, among other artists. Furthermore, artsy mentions the Brazilian gallery Mendes Wood DM, who sold all the works of Lucas Arruda, Paloma Bosquê, Michael Dean and Willys de Castro.
Attending the event for its sixth consecutive year, the gallery owner Luciana Brito says that in terms of sales, 2015 was a more profitable year than 2014. “The fair has become more sophisticated at every edition and each public attendance has been a highlight, especially with the presence of curators from prominent institutions”, says Luciana, who also participates in events as ARCO (Madrid), Armory (New York), Art Basel (Switzerland and USA) and artBO (Bogota).
Despite the wave of alternative fairs, including the 5th edition of YIA and Slick – now at its 10th year – Fiac holds its position as the flagship of the contemporary art week in Paris, where galleries are constantly running highly disputed art shows. Le Monde highlighted the event’s free admission program this year, which includes sections at the Jardin des Tuileries and the Jardin des Plantes – “Although most fairs of the world have displayed art works in urban spaces, a few of them have been capable of achieving such a broad scope” – but also its partnership with Parisian public and private institutions, including the Louvre Museum and the Palais de Tokyo, the latter featuring a comprehensive retrospective of John Giorno in its fall-winter season. The pathway along the Seine River was referred to as a “river of museums” by Jennifer Flay. See the highlights of the week of arts in Paris on the next pages.
Buon Giorno!
Palais de tokyo hosts retrospective exhibit dedicated to the poet and American performer John giorno, key personality of the American underground scene in the 60s. Designed by Ugo Rondinone, the show recalls the artist’s collaboration with Warhol Andy and beatniks poets.
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