2020 Armory Art Fair: Beyond The Epidemic, The Light Of Pluralistic Art

Last year, the armoury Art Fair was forced to evacuated the venue before the opening of the 92 Hudson wharf structure. However, fortunately, the proper and quick handling of the small storm almost prevented the Art Fair from being held as usual. In the spring of this year, the Art Fair of the armoury, which was not in the mood, encountered a new crown disease unexpectedly. Finally, in from March 4 to 8, 2020, the twenty-sixth New York armoury Art Fair was held on 90 and 94 Hudson wharf, where the hand disinfectant was placed carefully, the health notices at the entrance were posted, and the guests consciously used "elbow attack" instead of shaking hands to greet. Although the worries caused by the epidemic have already caused financial markets to be in trouble, the current armory Art Fair has gained a lot of satisfying deals.

Artist Tezi Gabunia's video installation works "breaking news: flooded Le Louvre Museum". Data map

One word: steady

Of the 180 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions, except for the two galleries in Asia, Pearl Lam and ShanghART were absent from the exhibition, the bustling trading atmosphere seemed to be unexpected. Some dealers say that although the number of VIP VIPs coming from Europe has decreased compared with the previous ones, most of them will keep in touch with them through intermediary or e-mail.

"I thought the scene would be much quieter than it is now." Stefano Di Paola, director of Anat Ebgi, Losangeles Gallery, told The Art Newspaper that the price of the works of Holland artists Amie Dicke and Canadian artist Janet Janet, which were represented by their gallery counterparts, were between $3500 and $20 thousand, most of which were sold at a few hours after the opening of the Art Fair. Stefan von Bartha, a distributor from Switzerland, also said that compared with last year's armory fair, this year's gathering of art fairs seems to be more powerful. VIP preview day is almost too busy to stop. On the same day, he sold the four Mini couplet works of the German minimalist mixed artist Imi Knoebel, "Anima Mundi 8-4 (2019)" and two other works, three of which were over 180 thousand dollars in total transaction price. The Miami based David Castillo gallery also sold three new art stars Vaughn Spann to private collections from New York, Chicago and Florida at the price of $80 thousand each. The Jack Bell gallery from London sells Lavar Munroe's mixed media works "17/18" WWJD (2020) to a private museum at US $80 thousand.

From a series of sales data, the armory Art Fair as a global influence of the United States local exposition, even in a global public health emergencies, but still to a large extent, "immune" its negative impact. Although there are no international art galleries such as Perth gallery or zuner Gallery, but with American buyers who have strong purchasing power and wide interest, and the major US Art and entertainment venues in order to cope with the rapid spread of the epidemic, they restrict their employees to travel abroad, so that buyers, collectors and Tibetan Pavilion's eyes are invariably focused on this local international art fair. Therefore, even under the cloudy situation, the sales situation of the armory Art Fair is still very optimistic and strong.

Compared with the impact of the epidemic, the long-term competition situation faced by the armoury art club may be more brain drain. The former Losangeles Mini Freese art fair, which was held in February, made its debut, followed by its May rival, TEFAF New York spring fair, not to mention "the yuan Zu" New York's oldest art fair, the annual art of the American Art Dealers Association (ADAA). The fair is often held before and after the week of Arsenal. However, in the face of multiple attacks, the armoury Art Fair is still relying on its own brand to promote the hard power of the gallery, and has surrounded a group of loyal fans. "I think it is still the most important art fair in New York, and people are very concerned about this activity," said Robert Dimin, the gallery of Denny Dimin, a local Gallery in New York. His acting artist, Amir H. Fallah, sold more than half of the price on the opening day, ranging from 14 thousand to 28 thousand dollars. "Anyway, you should take part in it. It's an option in your life wish list."

Multi artistic journey

It is not hard to find that African elements art works, which have been popular in the art market, continue to show a brilliant performance in this armory fair. The gallery Magnin-A from Paris brings the Malay artists born in the Benin Republic of Africa to the African Tribal Mask sculptures made of plastic pots and animal feathers. Senegal artist Omar Ba presents a colourful and collage of natural and urban materials in the gallery of Templon Gallery, reflecting the complex dilemma faced by Africans in the face of the choice of primitive environment and modern industrialized cities. And the work of Niyi Olagunju, an acting British artist of Tafeta Gallery, is more direct and direct. They made some gold-plated rework for a traditional sculpture from sub Saharan south, which allegorical ceremonial appliances with sacred religious significance in Africa eventually turned into a tragedy of globalized trade commodities. "Niyi"

In addition, compared with static paintings, the more three-dimensional, dynamic and intuitive forms of art are gradually enriching the new normal of the art market. A considerable number of multimedia, installation and behavioral art works shoulder the responsibility of reflecting social and historical problems at this art fair. The Galerie Korneld Gallery, located in the "focus" unit, displays the video installation of the artist Tezi Gabunia, "breaking news: flooded Le Louvre Museum". With the help of the entity Le Louvre Museum model and the common simulation of video projection, he let the audience witness the flood of Le Louvre Museum in the multi media effect. Although it has not actually happened, the real audio-visual effect is enough to make people think deeply about whether the "facts" and the "real realities" are consistent. In the "platform" unit, Edward and Nancy Kienholz, created in the works from 1986 to 1987, "The Caddy Court (Cadillac court)" are also very striking. A 1978 Cadillac was tied to another 1966 dodge van. The Cadillac car was full of animal skulls, antlers and antiques. Artists cleverly condemned the colonial history of dark violence.

With the end of this armory art fair, the art fair also welcomed the last farewell to Hudson pier. A few days ago, the official announcement that the armoury Art Fair will move to the New York's chair's Convention and Exhibition Center from 2021, and the time will also be changed to the autumn of from September 9th to 12th. Director Nicole Berry told Artnet that in the past, several ports between Hudson had not been contiguous, which brought great challenges to their work. She hopes that the autumn activities will attract more visitors from other places. At the same time, because the new art fair is located near the Chelsea Art Gallery gathering area, she also hopes to bring more traffic convenience to the audience who is interested in art.

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