Every London experience calls for a moment of serenity in one of the city’s magnificent parks. With so many to choose from and each with their own personality, where to start? Right now, Regent’s Park deserves preferential treatment as it hosts the very special Frieze Sculpture.
As London’s biggest free exhibition of outdoor art showcasing more than 20 international artists, Frieze Sculpture is an outstanding cultural attraction in the heart of the city. While plenitude of artworks in Frieze’s main tents come at a price, the joy of Frieze Sculptures is that it is absolutely free for anyone enjoying a stroll through the park. Turning the English Gardens into an open-air gallery, the highly acclaimed event is now in its third year. So impressive, it prompted Frieze New York to follow suit and set up Frieze Sculpture to the Rockefeller Plaza.
This year sees Clare Lilley direct the exhibition for the first time. As director of programme at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Clare’s expertise and knowledge has undoubtedly triumphed.
Home-grown talent such as Tracey Emin proves a main attraction with her mesmerising bronze sculpture of the female form titled When I Sleep (2018). Another key highlight is the late American Pop Art artist Robert Indiana and his ONE through ZERO (1980 – 2002) work. A cluster of oversized CORTEN steel numbers are placed in a round, illustrating the artist’s long-standing fascination with the power of numbers – a subject which stands as one of his key iconographic themes. Furthermore, My Melody by Tom Sachs as a pure white three-metre high interpretation of the children’s book character.
Vintage car fans will delight at the full-size reproduction of a 1973 Jaguar E-Type Matchbox toy car by sculptor Vik Muniz, hailing from Brazil. The piece ponders childhood memories whilst questions value within art history. Pakistani-American artist Huma Bhabha displays a spectacular bronze sculpture referencing ancient artwork and recent sci-fi revelations.
Other artists include Iván Argote, Ghazaleh Avarzamani, Peter Buggenhout, Jodie Carey, Ma Desheng, Lars Fisk, Barry Flanagan, Charlie Godet Thomas, Leiko Ikemura, Zak Ové, Jaume Plensa, Bettina Pousttchi, Lucy Skaer, LR Vandy, Joanna Rajkowska, Tai-Jung Um, Bill Woodrow and Emily Young.
“This temporary sculpture park, with works by prominent artists from around the world, promises to intrigue and give pleasure to the many hundreds of thousands of residents, workers and tourists who will visit the gardens over the summer months”, comments Clare Lilley.
The outstanding monumental works can be encountered around the English Gardens of Regent’s Park, with free admission to all until 6th October 2019.
Frieze Sculpture at the English Gardens, Regent’s Park, London NW1
frieze.com
