A carefully selected presentation of over 170 of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries, Frieze Art Fair New York 2012 will take place May 4-7. Employing a distinct snake-shaped structure, Frieze New York will be designed by New York-based SO – IL architects. Sponsored by Deutsche Bank, the event will benefit from the same architectural approach that has made Frieze Art Fair, London one of the world’s leading art fairs. More information on the event after the break.
Since the founding of Frieze Art Fair in 2003 the design of the bespoke temporary space has been a unique characteristic of the fair, employing a series of internationally recognized architectural firms: Carmody Groarke (2011), Caruso St John (2008-2010), Jamie Fobert (2006–2007) and David Adjaye (2003-2005).
SO – IL’s design for Frieze New York takes into account the environment in which the fair is situated. Commenting on their intention to incorporate both the East River front setting of the fair and Randall’s Island itself, Idenburg and Liu said: ‘New York in May is one of the brightest cities we know of. We hope that the Frieze tent makes this island riverfront alive and vice versa in this luminous moment.’
Idenburg and Liu observed of the design process: ‘The first challenge was to establish the structure as an icon, beyond being a very large tent. With the ambition to relax and open up what would otherwise be a rigorous system, we devised a slightly mutated pie-shaped tent section, using “wedges” which we inserted into the structure at five locations. From the outside, they allow us to bend the otherwise straight tent into a meandering, supple, shape.’
Amanda Sharp and Matthew Slotover said of their choice to work with SO – IL architects: ‘SO – IL’s previous projects have shown an inventive approach that we instantly found appealing. Having worked with a series of architects in London we have a reputation for commissioning forward-thinking design and we wanted to bring a similar approach to our first New York fair. SO – IL’s designs for Frieze New York are a solution that demonstrates a thorough understanding of how the fair works at the same time as being a structure that promises to genuinely excite.’
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