This October, Focus Art Fair opens the doors of the Saatchi Gallery, London, to lovers of contemporary art. Since 2019, the international event has been a shining beacon for the connection between art and experience. Earlier this year, the Seoul edition pioneered a first-of-its-kind approach that bridged the gap between Physical Art ad Digital Art – from NFTs to the Metaverse. Attendees could become completely immersed in what they were seeing. Now, the innovative art fair arrives in the UK capital with an excellent lineup of 30 exhibitors that showcase the best in today’s creativity. We are thrilled to spotlight three ground-breaking artists, who are presenting powerful installations that showcase beauty and innovation.
Visitors entering Saatchi gallery will observe a cluster of rust-coloured stones hovering above the ground. Delicately suspended with hemp string, earthen objects take to the air. This is Granite Installation #07, an awe-inspiring piece from Amsterdam-based artist Rein Kooyman. As a child, Kooyman grew up surrounded by the cinematic scenery surrounding the North Sea. Such landscapes form the basis of his practice, as he draws inspiration from his upbringing and travels around the world. Work at Focus Art Fair comes from his Navigating the Unseen series. It’s a visual and tactile representation of his journey to the National Parc des Écrins in France. Four kilometres of thread is used to hang 2,000 stones from the ceiling, a time-consuming process that requires enormous physical and mental discipline. However, this solid, impressive presence is merely temporary. Once the exhibition ends, Kooyman returns each stone to its original place as a sign of respect for nature and to symbolise the impermanence of human constructs.
Next, we are whisked away from nature. Elsewhere at Focus Art Fair, attendees will discover the urban landscapes fashioned by Korean multidisciplinary artist Joonhong Min (b. 1984), represented by Hanmi Gallery. The word “city” often evokes towering skyscrapers, crowded sidewalks and a kaleidoscope of neon colours flashing from digital screens. For the London-based creative, they are a place of claustrophobia, industrialisation and unbearable isolation. Min invites the viewer to embark on a journey examining his response to these space. One installation series is titled The Debris from The Future Past 01092019 (2020). Abandoned objects left on streets form the primary material of this thought-provoking display. Min breathes new life into these items by reconstructing the urban landscape through debris. He imagines the outrage these inanimate objects have at being discarded by painting them in bold colours and patterns.
Screens – from our phones to electronic advertisements – are a huge part of many modern cityscapes. In recent years, we have seen incredible creatives make use of this technology to craft spellbinding installations out of vast datasets, from Refik Anadol’s Artificial Realities: Rainforest to Sarah Meyohas’ Cloud of Petals. Trung Bao and Harry Yeff (Reeps One) – represented by Artnomad Curators – are also practitioners working in this exciting space. In 2021, they made Voice Gems: 1000 Year Archive. The ongoing project uses a 200,000 particle system to harness individual’s unique voices and generate one-of-a-kind digital gemstones and physical sculptures. High-profile contributors include Ai Weiwei, Sougwen Chung, Reggie Watts and Will.i.am. In addition to preserving the sounds of a vast array of people, they have created exquisite physical stones that capture the vocal input of loved ones. The very first Voice Gem was created in 2018 from the laughter between two lovers, the rock adorning an engagement ring. In galleries, Bao and Yeff create colourful megastructures from speech samples taken from around the world, curating them around a theme or location. It’s an impressive feat of creativity and innovation.
Despite having vastly different approaches, Kooyman, Min and Bao craft memorable experiences that immerse audiences. We are invited to walk around Navigating the Unseen or simply stand back to take it all in. As we traverse Min’s miniature metropolis, The Debris from The Future Past 01092019 might transport us to memories of bustling cities and the litter that covers many pavements. Visual representations of speech wash over us with the might and beauty of waves in Bao and Yeff’s Voice Megastructures. We’re inspired to draw closer and inspect every small, lustrous nook and cranny of the technological behemoth before us. All of these impressive installations are perfectly at home at Focus Art Fair because they represent the ethos of a platform that has remained dedicated to sharing experiences that stay with us forever.
Saatchi Gallery, Focus Art Fair | 10-13 October
Words: Diana Bestwish Tetteh
Image Credits:
- Rein Kooyman, Navigating the Unseen.
- Trung Boa and Harry Yeff, Voice Gems (2021).
- Rein Kooyman, Navigating the Unseen.
- Rein Kooyman, Navigating the Unseen.
- Joonhong Min, The Debris from The Future Past 01092019 (2020).