I almost didn’t make it through the cloudy and uphill cycle ride to Angel from Elephant & Castle, for laziness is my vice. So it’s safe to say that the Business Design Centre was a warm and welcoming sight.
The bustle of students, artists, curators, buyers and frustrated husbands filled me with anticipation, warmth and excitement, but I choked on my tongue before I could even turn the corner at the top of the stairs.
Versace Home. It was going to be a good day. Migos, being the best interior designers of all time, would never disappoint. The tackily elegant essence of Versace dripped all throughout the showroom; from the tiles down to the medusa head sink knobs. It was sheer opulence. After confirming that the sink was not solid gold, just plated, we began to settle down.
One of the works that immediately stood out to me was a series of images exposed onto tapestries of sewn dollar bills. The images were hung from the ceiling at an angle that created a sense of walking through the streets and encountering these people independently. It was interesting to see dollar bills used in ways besides tips for bottle waitresses.
The most shockingly hilarious works of art were the busts of Monica Lewinsky and Osama Bin Laden by Kenny Hunter. Monica Lewinsky, America’s sweetheart, juxtaposed with America’s former public enemy Number One. It was exactly what the contemporary art movement seems to have become an amalgamation of – political satire without explanation, forcing me to fall upon the conclusion that Bin Laden and Lewinsky must be plotting an attack on Bill Clinton’s next performance at the Jazz Café.
All in all the day went smoothly. We discovered that yoga balls can be used as sculpture, gallerists tend to have overly aggressive handshakes, and whiskey is always acceptable past 7pm. As I frantically tried to figure out how I was to cycle back to south London without marrying the pavement, I realized I had my first true gonzo experience. The waves of numbness fuelled by citrus–infused scotch seemed to resonate with the throngs of people flocking to see if they would be inspired.
The London Art Fair is an experience every young practitioner should have at least once. I left feeling deflated, inspired, broken, yet strong. Thank you London Art Fair. Thank You.
Featured image: Shannei Morrison-Brown