ART FAIRS:Turin-Artissima 2014
The major innovation in this year Artissima 2014, which takes place at Oval Lingotto Fiere in Torino, with Sarah Cosulich Canarutto in charge of artistic direction for the third time, is the creation of Per4m, a spectacular new section entirely dedicated to performance art as an addition to the traditional five sections that separate the galleries featured in the fair pavilion. In which artists, galleries and artworks are proposed and selected by curators and museum directors, including some of the leading figures in the international scene: Silvia Fanti (Performative Arts Curator, Xing, Bologna), Agustin Pérez Rubi (Artistic Director, Malba – Fundación Costantin, Buenos Aires), Stephanie Rosenthal (Head Curator, Hayward Gallery, London, and Artistic Director).
Artissima has always been characterized by its dual cultural and commercial vocation, so it is only fitting that the other new element for 2014 involves the part of the fair concerned with planning a cultural programme to accompany the market-based offering. Sarah Cosulich has invited a retired artist with a curious soul and a talent for discovering and showcasing to act as the non-curator for this project, namely Maurizio Cattelan, who – flanked by Myriam Ben Salah and Marta Papini – has imagined a very special exhibition in the evocative location of Palazzo Cavour. Taking the city of Torino as its main inspiration, “SHIT AND DIE” lies on a narrative thread drawn by a series of objects that the curators have sourced from a selection of established yet unconventional institutions and collections in the city. SHIT AND DIE is conceived as a highly subjective, obsessive and irrationally non-exhaustive composition in which different stories, objects and artworks incorporate into one consistent narrative that visitors can read as a whole tale. Part of this exhibition is and the in situ work of Stelios Faitakis.
The six sections of Artissima 2014 will host 194 galleries, 57 of them are Italian) including the most interesting names on the international art market, from 34 different countries, are: Main Section: That gathers the most representative galleries from the world art scene. New Entries: Reserved for the most interesting young galleries that have been active for less than five years and will be attending Artissima for the first time, a jury of international museum directors will assign the “Guido Carbone New Entries Prize” to the gallery considered most noteworthy for its activity in promoting young artists and for the booth presentation. Art Editions: Inaugurated in 2012, it will host limited editions, prints and multiples by contemporary artists. Present Future: Dedicated to emerging talents invited by a team of international young curators and presented by their galleries of reference in a central area of the fair pavilion. This year the section will feature selected projects by 20 artists represented by 21 galleries, the winner of the “Illy Present Future Prize” consists in the unique opportunity of an exhibition by the winning artist in the prestigious setting of Castello di Rivoli Museum of Contemporary Art on the forthcoming edition of Artissima. Back to Future: Hosts museum-quality solo exhibitions with historic works by artists from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Back to the Future presents solo shows by artists who have played an important role in the history of contemporary art but who have not always received the visibility they deserve among the public. This year, 25 artists represented by 24 galleries. During Artissima, an international jury will award the new “Sardi per l’Arte Back to the Future Prize”, created through the new partnership with the Fondazione Sardi per l’Arte and given to the gallery with the most deserving project in terms of the historical relevance of the artists and the presentation of the stand. The new Per4m: Exclusively dedicated to performance art, Artissima’s newest section has been conceived as a highly innovative project in both its mode of presentation and its approach to performance in the context of a fair. This year Per4m presents works by 16 artists represented by 16 galleries. The launch of Per4m is set to be accompanied by the introduction of a new and significant prize, the “Prix Per4m K-Way”.
Representing Greece among the galleries participating in Artissima are: BERNIER/ELIADES, KALFAYAN, ELENI KORONEOU, THE BREEDER at Main Section and CAN CHRISTINA ANDROULIDAKI, ELIKA at NEW ENTRIES.
Info: Artissima 2014, via Bertola 34, Torino, Duration: 7-9/11/14, Hours: 11:00-20:00, Ticket 15€ – Ticket for 3 Days 30€, www.artissima.it/index.php
