October 27 2008
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/2008
16:52
The four main Parisian art fairs are the superheroes of this end of October. The press is excited, the art collectors are under tight scrutiny, the art galleries are stressed and art is… worried?
Show Off: the Human Torch.
Born from the Fiac-denied galleries ashes, Show Off is becoming a strong and independent art fair. First take on the 2008 edition felt like a mean backlash in terms of quality, not of the exhibitors, but of the exhibited. But that was before visiting the Slick art fair… Truly, you did not have to go further than the reception desk, and the two galleries Odile Ouizeman and Oliver Robert. Two exemplary galleries, serious and creative. Olivier Robert, perfect in his hanging (the appropriated space by David Ancelin, the magical paintings by Elodie Lesourd) could obviously pretend to join the Mr. Fantastic forces. The rest of the works looked a little bit weak, exception be made for the (not totally) artist Scott Campbell at Massimo Carasi Gallery or the artworks presented at Analix Forever, by a group of artists all motivated by the same artistic quest/wish. There we some real failed attempts (School Gallery) as well as nice discoveries (Jodey Carey at the Daneyal Mahmood Gallery, Yuki Onodera at the RX Gallery). Show Off didn’t burn, but it was certainly dynamic and determined to compete with the Fiac. Fighting with its own weapons and dealing with a delicate place in which to show the works, it moves from an anteroom position to a lawful status of qualitative and dynamic art fair. All Show Off needs now, is to avoid getting too close to the sun.
Born from the Fiac-denied galleries ashes, Show Off is becoming a strong and independent art fair. First take on the 2008 edition felt like a mean backlash in terms of quality, not of the exhibitors, but of the exhibited. But that was before visiting the Slick art fair… Truly, you did not have to go further than the reception desk, and the two galleries Odile Ouizeman and Oliver Robert. Two exemplary galleries, serious and creative. Olivier Robert, perfect in his hanging (the appropriated space by David Ancelin, the magical paintings by Elodie Lesourd) could obviously pretend to join the Mr. Fantastic forces. The rest of the works looked a little bit weak, exception be made for the (not totally) artist Scott Campbell at Massimo Carasi Gallery or the artworks presented at Analix Forever, by a group of artists all motivated by the same artistic quest/wish. There we some real failed attempts (School Gallery) as well as nice discoveries (Jodey Carey at the Daneyal Mahmood Gallery, Yuki Onodera at the RX Gallery). Show Off didn’t burn, but it was certainly dynamic and determined to compete with the Fiac. Fighting with its own weapons and dealing with a delicate place in which to show the works, it moves from an anteroom position to a lawful status of qualitative and dynamic art fair. All Show Off needs now, is to avoid getting too close to the sun.
> 1. FIAC
> 3. Slick
> 4. Diva
.
[Photo : Christian Gonzenbach, Redemption, 2006. Impression ultrachrome sur papier. 100 x 60 cm. Archive Galerie Edward Mitterrand, Genève. Courtesy de l'artiste]
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