The Shows You Should See During Frieze

This week the art world descends upon London. Holly Black asked eight industry insiders to share their must-see exhibitions  

1. Charlotte Mullins, Art Critic, Writer and Broadcaster

Rachel Whiteread, Untitled (One Hundred Spaces), 1995 – an installation of 100 resin casts of the underside of chairs, shown in Tate Britain’s Duveen galleries. 

"The London art world opens its doors wide during Frieze week so I am looking forward to new shows by the Chapmans at Blain Southern, Dorothea Tanning at Alison Jacques and Rivane Neuenschwander at Stephen Friedman. I’m also hoping to make repeat visits with overseas friends to see Rachel Whiteread at Tate Britain and Jean-Michel Basquiat at the Barbican, two of the autumn’s most significant exhibitions and definitely worth multiple viewings."

2. Emily Tobin, Arts Editor at House and Garden Magazine 

Hauser and Wirth has gained a reputation for creating stand-out booths. This year, it presents a fictional museum of ancient objects, in collaboration with renowned historian Mary Beard. 

"Hauser and Wirth have a rich history of upping the ante at Frieze. Last year, they created a 20th century artist atelier and in 2014 plenty of visitors were bamboozled by their snoozing security guard. This year promises to be equally ingenious. The gallery has collaborated with British scholar and historian, Mary Beard on a fictional museum of ancient objects and significant bronzes by the likes of Louise Bourgeois, Paul McCarthy and Rashid Johnson."

"In 2002, Rossana Orlandi took up residence in a former tie factory in Milan and opened her shop/gallery. The space is a bastion of ground-breaking contemporary design. This year marks Orlandi’s inaugural showing at PAD London and her stand promises to showcase some exciting new names. Her ability to spot young talent is legendary."

3. Robert Dingle, Art Fund Contemporary Projects Manager 

John Akomfrah, Still frame from Purple, 2017. Six screen film installation. Credit: © Smoking Dogs Films; Courtesy Lisson Gallery. 

"With hundreds of exhibitions and events vying for your attention in London during Frieze week, my recommendation beyond the fair would have to be from the winner of the 2017 Artes Mundi prize. British artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah looks set to create one of his most ambitious pieces to date [at the Barbican’s Curve Gallery], an immersive six-channel video installation addressing climate change, human communities and the wilderness."

4. Joanna Payne, Founder of Marguerite, a networking organisation for women in the arts 

"Having worked in the VIP team for the fair for over four years I now love nothing more than being able to enjoy everything the amazing team there makes happen. Beyond the fair exhibitors, I can’t wait for Frieze Masters’ show-stopping talks programme – Marina Abramović’s conversation with Tim Marlow will be incredible."

Susan Hiller Channels, 2013 Video installation with sound. Photo by Oh Dancy © Susan Hiller; Courtesy Lisson Gallery 

"I’m also really looking forward to: the opening of Lisson Gallery and The Vinyl Factory’s Everything at Once at 180 The Strand, which will feature work by the likes of Marina, Ai Wei Wei and Anish Kapoor; photographer, David George’s The Broken Pastoral at my friend Sid Motion’s eponymous gallery in King’s Cross; and the launch party for Bazaar Art: Women in Art, which Marguerite will feature in this year. What a week it will be!"

5. James Brett, Founder of the Museum and Gallery of Everything 

George E. Ohr, Untitled, 1897 - 1900, Glazed ceramic, 10 × 13.5 × 11 cm, Courtesy of the artist and the gallery.

"The week of grimaces, smooches and handshakes; one needs respite. Re-catch Jasper Johns at the Royal Academy. This famed collector of our own outlier art-potter, George Ohr, immortalised the ceramics in his paintings. Go to the RA, know you can't afford a Johns, come to Frieze Masters, pick up an Ohr at The Gallery of Everything instead."

"Also on the hit list: Monsieur Prolific aka Jean Dubuffet at Pace. Sounds square; far from it. This master of art brut discovered a non-academic brand. He inspired our sell-out show last year at Frieze Masters. His late works are rare, but ask to see the secrets hidden in the back [...] Finally performance: the Performa Archive at the Whitechapel Gallery times well with ‘The Bob Parks Life-Story Show’, a retrospective for the legendary 70s pioneer of performance, with participatory happenings every afternoon chez nous in Chiltern Street. How will you experience it all!?"

6. Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Contemporary Artist, now showing at Tyburn Gallery

Adejoke Tugbiyele, Shifting the Waves: The Mask, The Boat, The Broom, The Box, 2017, Durational performance. Courtesy the artist

"I'll begin with this: educate me! Having missed Frieze for two years in a row but religiously attending 1:54 [Contemporary African Art Fair], I can only say I'm now ready, my eyes are wide open, ears are perked and I'm hoping to get a fresh and clear perspective of our times. I'm looking forward to seeing Kiluanji Kia Henda performative installation Under the Silent Eye of Lenin at Frieze and Shifting the Waves, a performance at 1:54 by Adejoke Tugbiyele. Personally, there's much to gain from both experiences."

7. Olivier Malingue, Gallerist 

Project for Studies into the Past Oil on wood, Courtesy of the artist and Olivier Malingue Gallery © Laurent Grasso ADAGP, Paris, 2016

"The deliberate confusion of the audience’s perception is prevalent in Laurent Grasso’s The Panoptes Project, which will open at my gallery in Mayfair, on 4th October, to coincide with our first participation at Frieze Masters this year. The leading French conceptual artist has selected works by modern masters such as Magritte, Picabia and Redon to be shown alongside his own new and past works. The show creates parallels between Grasso’s work and historical, academic, Surrealist, and materialist understandings of the eye."

8. Laura Hensser, Deputy Director of Gasworks

Zach Blas, Contra-Internet, 2017. Installation view. Commissioned by Gasworks; Art in General, New York; and MU, Eindhoven. Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Andy Keate. 

"I’m very much looking forward to this year’s Frieze, particularly Regina José Galindo’s changing exhibition of video and photography at Proyectos Ultravioleta. Outside of the Frieze tent, I’m keen to visit Seventeen and the new work of Jala Wahid, and of course I highly recommend Zach Blas’ exhibition at Gasworks. If I had the time (and money) I would jump on a plane and visit Radical Women: Latin American Art, 1960-1985 at the Hammer Museum in LA."

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