For a few hours, the gallery that smells world trends in contemporary art, the Saatchi Yates of London, has landed in Turin. It will not be at Artissima (which will be staged at the Oval from 5 to 7 November), but it was attracted to it like a magnet, to the point of opening a temporary exhibition space in the center that will make a lot of talk about itself at the same time as the fair. Something more than a detail, a news story, a glitter to pin in the sky of the Oval, but above all the sign that the 28th fair finally back in attendance (after months of acrobatics between physical and digital) returns with the desire to amaze and even has the cards to do so. Review theme directed by Ilaria Bonacossa, the “counter-time”. Idea born both of the space-time suspension that forced Artissima, together with the entire world of culture, not to open its doors for a time that seemed infinite, and – as a tribute – to the other international event in November, the ATP, which will take place in Turin from 14 to 21 November: “The knowledge of time has changed – explains the director Bonacossa – Artissima has never stopped and has continued to support galleries and artists through both physical and digital projects, constantly renewing itself in a world in which all paradigms were redefined ». And he gets to the point: “Today, therefore, welcoming the art public together with our galleries and partners means transforming the experience of the fair into one of the first steps towards a return to a new normality in which creativity has become even more important to reinvent public and private life “.
But let’s get into this fair. This year some large galleries have chosen to emancipate themselves from the mere display of individual works by focusing on the preparation of small exhibitions. Mini-installations to host great stories born to be read with new gazes, those of collectors who are no longer satisfied with the single work, because after the pandemic there is more hunger for new content. The Tucci Russo gallery, for example, to celebrate its first 50 years has focused on just one great name, Richard Long and has created a project that insinuates itself into its brilliant creative process such as A line made by walking (1967) offering to I publish some of his emblematic works. The Koenig gallery will set up a solo show by Claudia Compte who will arrive in person at the Oval and will create a wall drawing in the new stand during the three days of the fair. Among the projects outside the fair, the ballroom of the Hotel Principi di Piemonte is worth the trip, which will host the 6 CHAIRS of the Lithuanian artist Augustas Serapinas: they are up to 2 meters high, they play with a monumentality that pays homage to Kurt’s “merzbau” Schwitters and remember those of lifeguards or tennis referees. And speaking of tennis, the sidereal one, the Atp Finals champions will be able to sit on these thrones, since they will sleep right in that hotel, after their English breakfast.
Furthermore, as Bonacossa explains, «Artissima will be the first fair to support the production of NFT works», selecting five artists from those presented at Artissima to award the best in February 2022 at the OGR in Turin. Among the novelties there is Hub India, a new geographical focus that will also expand in the city, skirting Palazzo Madama, the Mao and the Albertina Academy of Fine Arts. In a historical moment in which traveling is still difficult, through the work of 65 artists coming from ten of the most important Indian galleries and museums, the project is looming as the broadest and most meaningful dialogue that Indian contemporary art has had with the Western world in recent times. Lastly, Intesa Sanpaolo, the main partner of the fair this year, has produced two exhibitions for Artissima: one dedicated to the art collections of the 20th and 21st century bank housed in the Oval spaces and the other, Rimbalzi, at the Intesa Sanpaolo skyscraper. , with a selection of photos from the bank’s Publifoto Archive.