Parallax Art Fair
A French artist who mixed his own blood with water in a vase of flowers to create an artwork of delicate, pink tinged blooms is just one of over 200 artists exhibiting at Parallax art fair, which runs from February 16th to 18th 2012 at London’s Chelsea Town Hall.
Contemporary multi-media artist Vincent Fichard persuaded a nurse to draw a pint of his blood especially for the project.
He mixed the samples with water, and stirred repeatedly over two days recording how the white roses, irises and orchids absorbed the blood in a documentary video and photography. Fichard’s artwork is among over 1,000 pieces on show at Parallax, the world’s largest 'curated' international artist art fair.
Exhibitors at Parallax are mainly unrepresented artists from 38 countries around the world including China, South America, Asia, the former Russian republics as well as Western Europe and the USA.
Highlights include Bente Christensen-Ernst, a female Danish artist living close to the Syrian border whose work is inspired by the Arab Spring; Singaporean graffiti artist Skope; Stanislav Tykhon from the Ukraine whose chosen medium is leather plaits; and Kostyantin Rudeshko - also from the Ukraine - who uses laser cut digital prints to create dramatic portraits.
Mahtab Firouzabadi from Iran is known internationally for her vivid, dramatic abstract representations of nature while Canal Jagerroos is inspired by the ancient philosophy and literature of her Chinese background to create delicate works of art using acrylic, rice paper and ink on canvas.
American David Welch creates and photographs precariously-balanced 'assemblages' of objects such as plastic bottles, beer cans, cars and empty cardboard boxes, in order to encourage debate about the material world and the ways in which we feel compelled to consume.
Over 50 UK based artists are represented, including spray-paint artist Grace Gilbey and Victoria Haviland, whose lambarda prints on aluminium explore notions of memory, space, and contemporary and traditional folk art.
Parallax, which is conceived and curated by art historian Dr Chris Barlow, explores new theories in contemporary art and curation, with an associated lecture*. It is free to attend and there are no commission charges on purchases made at the fair. Prices range from £50 to over £3,000.
Dr Chris Barlow commented: "Parallax has grown since 2010 into a serious platform for new, emerging and established artists from all over the world to present their work to dealers, collectors, critics and buyers.
"We are very excited to welcome new, fresh artistic discoveries and showcase the very best of contemporary art from artists who rarely have the chance for international exposure."
Parallax AF opening details:
Preview - Wednesday 15th February, invite attached
Art Fair - Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th February 2012
Venue: Chelsea Old Town Hall, King’s Road, London, SW3 5EE, Sloane Square tube
Tel: 020 3239 7258 / http://barlowfinedrawings.com/parallaxaf.html
Entrance - Free
*Parallax AF Inaugural Lecture - Thursday 16th February from 18:30
Actual Barlow Lecture by Professor Alun Munslow (University of Chichester)
For tickets to private viewings and event please contact: [email protected]