The launch of Relevance International’s London office coincided this week with the Frieze Art Fair, presented October 5th through 8th under expansive tents in London’s Regent’s Park. Sponsored by global lead partner Deutsche Bank, the world’s largest art fair brought together more than 160 galleries spanning 31 countries around the world. Frieze London continued to build on its role as a dynamic centre of contemporary art, presenting a diverse collection of global works, indicative of London’s position as an international capital of commerce, art and culture.
London is still one of the world’s most important business centres, and a gateway city strategically positioned to access markets in North America, continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East. London also maintains its longstanding position as a global media capital, even as the BBC strives to define itself in an evolving digital landscape. The city is undergoing a building boom, as evidenced by the ubiquitous construction cranes stretching from Central London to Chelsea. Young people are driving the city’s modern transformation, as they do everywhere, with emerging hip new neighbourhoods such as Shoreditch in East London, and its Brick Lane now known for having the best Indian restaurants in London. With a growing art, music and nightlife scene, Shoreditch is now commonly referred to as the “Williamsburg of London,” as Brooklyn builds on its reputation as an international brand.
The city once thought of as having very little culinary options is now a foodie’s dream destination. On Wardour Street, across from Relevance International’s office in Soho, there is a great Indian restaurant, next door to a fantastic Thai restaurant, next door to an unbelievable Vietnamese Pho restaurant, reflecting the diverse cultural explosion that is now modern London. Long-time Londoners may insist that you can’t find decent fish and chips unless you go to South London, but there’s a hole-in-the-wall fish and chips shop in the quiet neighbourhood of Notting Hill that would have lines around the block if it were in Chelsea (New York City, not London).
Back to the Frieze Art Fair, where Suzanne Rosnowski, founder and CEO of Relevance International, and director Mitch Breindel toured galleries from around the world, with exhibitions ranging from established artists to the emerging artists now gaining attention. Suzanne and Mitch visited the Gagosian Gallery with world-renowned works by Picasso, Warhol, and Jean-Michel Basquiat; the Timothy Taylor Gallery’s exhibition by contemporary Mexican artist Eduardo Terrazos; the blue door “Main Entrance” by South Korean artist Do-Ho Suh; and Daniel Knorr’s resin sculptures “Depression Elevation,” which drew enormous crowds and interest as the sculptures sold out quickly.
Suzanne and Mitch went from the tents at the Frieze Art Fair to the Frieze Sculpture in Regent’s Park’s meticulously landscaped English Gardens, which displayed 25 sculptures by acclaimed 20th-century and contemporary artists, such as Miquel Barceló’s, Gran Elefandret, KAWS’ Final Days, John Chamberlain’s, FIDDLERSFORTUNE and Alicja Kwade’s, Big Be-Hide.
An inspiring day at the Frieze Art Fair left attendees with the recognition that, despite any current political uncertainties, there’s never been a better time to be in London.