(24 Oct 2013) LEADIN
Works by Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, are among the eclectic international pieces on show at the FIAC art fair in Paris.
This year marks the 40th such event , with nearly 200 installations on display at historic sites around the French capital.
STORYLINE:
The Grand Palais in Paris is just one of the prestigious buildings given over to the FIAC art fair for three days.
This year is FIAC’s 40th anniversary and as part of the celebrations, works from 25 different countries are being displayed around the city at landmarks including Place Vendome, Jardin des Tuileries and the banks of the river Seine.
An important meeting spot for gallery owners, curators and art dealers FIAC specialises in modern art. Artistic director, Jennifer Flay says the fair is one of the most important events on the contemporary arts calendar:
“The way we are spread out into the city, the way the institutions really work in synergy with FIAC to create a very powerful moment of contemporary art and it’s true to say that France and Paris is particularly well doted with institutions that are capable of putting on first-rate exhibitions at this time of the year.”
The Foire Internationale d’Art Contemporain was created in 1974 (originally called Salon International d’Art Contemporain). The first event was held in the old railway station at Bastille square in Paris.
While FIAC has faithfully presented all the main trends and movements in contemporary art during its 40 years, Thaddaeus Ropac, owner of Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac which has bases in Salzburg and Paris says today it’s more about individual style than big artistic movements:
“At the moment we are at the period where art is not considered like a school, it’s really much more individual. And I think it’s much more interesting to follow different individual artists and not a movement where a whole group of artists paint the same or do the same.”
An array of prestigious international art galleries are presenting this year including 303 Gallery, New York, Gavin Brown’s enterprise, New York, Hauser & Wirth, Zurich and Victoria Miro, London.
Ropac says the fair is great for spotting emerging talent.
“So I think you come here and see some very important and very (well) known works of art but you can also develop your own curiosity to discover some new talents. So I think FIAC has a good tendency, where it goes and how it changed tremendously. It’s much more international than what it used to be and attracts a lot of international collectors now.”
The fair is increasingly attracting galleries from Asia such as Kukje Gallery based in Seoul and Tina Kim that has bases in Seoul and New York.
Bona Yoo representing both the galleries at the fair says: “I definitely feel that it’s (art is) being globalised, there is no doubt. For us, as a Korean gallery, but we also have Tina Kim Gallery in New York, so it makes it easier for us to bridge the gap between Asia and everywhere else (in the world).”
Last year more than 70, 000 visitors came to the three day event. This year organisers say they expect that to increase to 75 000.
The FIAC runs from 24th-27th October 2013.
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