SPACE October 2024 (No. 683)
Installation view of SAC Gallery from Bangkok, Image courtesy of Frieze, Lets Studio / ©Lets Studio
Indian gallery DAG’s booth. Examining how each gallery divides the booth space is one of the interesting aspects of an art fair. Image courtesy of Frieze, Lets Studio / ©Lets Studio
A Look Inside the Convention Center
Art fairs and biennales are similar in that they both bring together some of the most noteworthy works of art from around the world under one roof. However, the same object can be seen from completely different perspectives depending on the setting. In a biennale, it becomes an artwork to be appreciated while in an art fair, it’s a product waiting to be sold. The fundamental distinction between art and product shapes the entire spatial experience of these two events. In an interview with Artforum, Matthew Slotover, co-founder of Frieze, explained that in a biennale, ‘there’s a certain relationship between things,’ while at an art fair, ‘you have 2,000 – 3,000 objects that were never intended to be shown together.’ In short, there’s little curation in an art fair. Instead, the visitors become the curators. By selecting and purchasing the items they want to own, they curate their own personal space. Even for those not intending to buy anything, visitors discover and connect with objects based...
