The European Superb Artwork Honest (Tefaf) is aptly named. Whereas strolling down the aisles of the storied Park Avenue Armory phrases in French, German and Dutch flit in regards to the air like bubbles leaping out of a generously stuffed champagne glass. The Armory’s previous New York appeal performs into the truthful’s old-world ambiance, its prevalence of contemporary masterworks, and the continental art-chat. The pairing, like being served simply the proper glass of wine on your meal, elevates the separate components into one thing higher.
One may very well be forgiven, amid all of the pleasant throwback, for forgetting that it was the abruptly shuttered Tefaf Maastricht truthful in 2020 that kicked off Covid-19’s destruction of the standard artwork truthful calendar (from which a whole lot of less-than-interesting On-line Viewing Rooms sprung). As guests in summer time informal fits and cocktail apparel roamed the venue, canapes had been handed round, the a number of bars had been all the time barely busy (however not annoyingly so). There have been even roving uncooked bars for many who get pleasure from watching an oyster get shucked and slurping it down whereas surrounded by wonderful artwork. It was nearly as if the truthful was going down prior to now, earlier than the pandemic redefined how we expertise time.
TEFAF New York Images by Mark Niedermann
However it could be incorrect to name this Tefaf New York a throwback. Regardless of its historic flavour, it is likely to be the right truthful for the immediately’s artwork market. Over the previous couple of years, collectors have slowly stepped out of the proverbial lanes that they historically stayed in. They’ve broadened their accumulating pursuits. The public sale homes caught onto the pattern and commenced doing what they do finest, promoting issues to individuals who need to purchase them. Works by Rembrandt at the moment are supplied alongside Hockneys and Klines. Cecily Brown is in the identical sale as Basquiat, which can or could not additionally embody a dinosaur fossil (however will greater than doubtless embody a non-fungible token). Collectors shouldn’t have to remain stick to 1 period, they’re free to gather as if time didn’t exist.
That is the place Tefaf shines. Whereas lots of the stands rely closely on Fashionable artwork heavyweights, there are many traditional modern artworks and design objects. Through the VIP preview on 5 Could, some works even appeared to nonetheless glimmer with moist paint. When works from disparate ages are hung subsequent to one another, the potential dialogue between and round them is exponentially elevated.
“Fashionable for us is the twentieth century, however as folks age they naturally change into extra within the classics,” says Mathias Rastorfer of the Zurich- and New York-based Gallerie Gmurzynska. “Some festivals give attention to principally the modern, Tefaf is a bit older in theme, however right here you’ll find Outdated Masters and modern work as effectively. It’s a fantastic expertise for these concerned with studying about and dwelling with the previous, whereas additionally seeing what is going on immediately.”
Pablo Picasso, Venus et Amour (Venus and Cupid), 1918 Courtesy of Gallerie Gmurzynska
Gallerie Gmurzynska proved the purpose eloquently on the left aspect of their stand. On the centre wall hangs a 1918 work, priced at $2.8m, by Pablo Picaso, Vénus et Amour. The post-Cubist work was initially a fresco that was executed on a wall of the Villa La Mimoseraraie in Biarritz owned by the Chilean socialite Eugenia Errazuriz. An admirier and patron of Picasso’s, Errazuiz lent the artist the villa throughout his honeymoon with new spouse Olga Kohklova. To the left of the Picasso, on a separate wall, hangs a strong Wifredo Lam nonetheless life, certainly one of two within the sales space (just one was on the market). And throughout from the Lam is a smaller canvas, relative to the Picasso and the Lam that are each practically 5ft excessive, The Gentlewoman or the Aggravation of our Incoherences by the French-American artist Anh Duong. A lady passionately leans again whereas being kissed on the neck by a person whose face is obscured. Her hand gently hangs above his head all however actively controlling the scene. Accomplished in 2022, this canvass nods to the mass of figurative work that’s standard at modern artwork auctions and downtown galleries, whereas additionally echoing the enjoyment and energy of Picasso’s Venus sharing thematic parts and colors with each the Lams.
Teresita Fernández’s presentation at Lehmann Maupin’s TEFAF sales space. Set up view, Park Avenue Armory Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and London
At Lehman Maupin’s stand, a solo presentation by Teresita Fernández is exceedingly modern and conceptually anchored in present occasions. Principally collage and combined media works, the stand has been painted a deep gray color and painted by hand by the artist with skinny futuristic pink stripes, a color that’s utilized in all of the works on view. The principle options in all of the works are sticks of compressed charcoal, an merchandise acquainted to anybody who has taken a grade college artwork class. However right here, the drawing instruments symbolize what they as soon as had been, dwelling wooden. Fernández’s works touch upon the historical past of colonisation and the gradual collapse of the surroundings via moody, darkish landscapes that reference tropical palm bushes, additionally made from the charcoal, which flip the recognisable image of seaside life into works which might be as foreboding and treacherous as they’re stunning. The works vary in value from $60,000 to $300,000.
On the Armory’s second flooring, sculptures from the traditional previous fill the Paris-based Galerie Chenel’s stand. Among the many Greek, Roman and Egyptian sculptures, a primary century Roman marble piece instructions consideration. Aphrodite, The So-Referred to as Venus Genitrix is without delay elegant and sensual, regardless of the shortage of a head or arms. The feminine determine’s proper leg is barely again and bent on the knee, giving the hips a sweeping movement. The determine’s garments, which erotically drape and cling to the physique, look delicate, nearly translucent regardless of the very fact they too are carved from marble.
Roman, first century, Aphrodite, the so-called Venus Genitrix Courtesy Galerie Chenel
In a market that’s seeing collectors broadening their views and pursuits, Tefaf has a wealth of alternatives. A robust exhibiting of ladies artists and works that characteristic highly effective girls show that even when extremely influenced by the previous, one is rarely caught there. An artwork truthful shouldn’t be solely a spot to attach with previous mates but in addition to see how works join with one another. At Tefaf, the place the lengthy view of artwork historical past is cherished, there may be lots to see.
- Tefaf New York, Park Avenue Armory, till 10 Could.
