Ok...just gonna admit it now...I fucked up and forgot the camera at home. And my phone with it's fancy small camera? Well I forgot to charge it and it ran out of batteries as I was walking into the fair. So, despite the inability to accurately describe a gigantic art fair without any images...here's how it went...
IT WAS AMAZING.
On one hand- encouraging. It was great to see such a variety of art, all making money, all different levels of establishment in their careers, all different kinds of interest. It really makes you think that there is more than enough chance for a young artist like myself, especially when there is no one that strikes you as identical to your style, yet a few that are similar.
On the other hand - Totally discouraging. Where there is all this opportunity, there is also all this competition and, when organized like this exhibition, it's a bit overwhelming to see all these people that are that much farther ahead of you...When I look at art, while I don't get particularly jealous at other's success, it makes me want to work...to advance...to the prove to myself I belong. Where many other artists can disconnect the art and success they see from their own career, I have a tendency to ask myself "why the hell are they here and you're not?"
So when you combine those things...I was more motivated than ever to continue working, produce work with all my heart and continue to try to spread art throughout the community...but I also feel more focused. Like I have more of a goal...a direction. I don't want to simply "make art" but I want to make impassioned art.
There were a few things of note that really blew my mind.
A. I saw my first ever large-scale Basquiat and, once the curator knew I had some idea what i was talking about, chatted with me for a bit, showed me a photo of Basquiat and Warhol that he had in the back (and happened to be taken about a year before Warhol died), and seemed genuinely interested in what I thought and that I knew who Basquiat was. It was great to see a guy that deals with multi-million-dollar pieces get excited to talk with a 24 yr old who hasn't seen a million dollars through his entire life combined.
B. I saw 4-5 Twombly's that were simply astounding...better than the two I saw the The Chicago Art Institute.
C. I saw the first ever work of Damien Hirst in person; one of his spin paintings. It was actually less interesting than I expected, which wasn't very much to begin with. On the other hand, it was a Damien Hirst, so it was worth seeing none-the-less. (interesting though that there was NO ONE looking at it that I noticed at any other point.)
D. There was a TON of painting...maybe I just don't go to enough galleries or high-end art fairs, but I would have expected to see a lot more conceptual sculpture and installation. I was pleasantly surprised how represented the medium of painting was and how strong, I thought, much of the work was. Goooo painting.
This is a really basic run-down of thoughts that came from the event and I truly apologize for no photos...typing it out really doesn't do it justice...but I will try to find examples from some of the artists that I thought were strong and continue with this is as the week goes on...
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