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Conclusion, well this is it, party after party, from one delicious meal to the next, mountains of fountains of champagne, 500 guests to host, conversation after conversation and then of course a humungous amount of art to look at and absorb all at the same time I am heading to Art Addict Rehab until the next art fair on Weds in Paris!
The highlight of the week was the Richter show. The show was put together in such a way, as Chris Dercon called it, to be a ‘panorama view’ rather than a historical view.
The turnout was the crème de la crème of the art world.
The next evening was the Grand Opening of the Arts Club and Gwyneth Paltrow gave a very interesting performance before the Duke of Edinburgh. The atmosphere was electric, I chatted with my fellow board members the likes of Mark Ronson and spoke about his stint around the Olympic Stadium with the Torch and the opening after party.
Monday was very much fun: I headed in the evening first to Saville Row to visit Amalia Dayan and Daniele Luxembourg’s gleaming new gallery. Amalia stands in front of a stunning Dan Colen dirt painting.
Elsian Fattal showed us her wonderful new jewellery at the Hoffman household where she was showing collaboration with S J Phillips.
Outside Thomas Dane standing waiting for me were Toby Ziegler, Michael Landy, Jack Kirkland and Francois Chantala and Martine hiding in the background.
Then it was Albert Oehlen’s farewell party. We had the most lovely evening which ended looking at a very vain snake...
...looking at itself in the mirror in Damien Hirst’s Cabinet, being admired by Jerry Hall and our wonderful Host Ivor Braka. I was so happy to see he had a wonderful Ged Quinn adorning his wall giving him as much pleasure as his Bridget Rileys, Freuds and Auerbachs.
Next day I was driving past Trafalgar Square and I absolutely loved Yinka Shonibare’s Ship in a bottle on the Fourth Plinth.
On Tuesday, VIP morning at 176. Paola, Ellen and Lizzie all dressed in cream. Then we headed off home and the sun shone yet again and people sat in the garden. Everyone seemed very happy with Laurel’s show, it was a big success.
Our new 176 neighbours, Polly Stenham and Victoria Williams who have set up a new gallery called Cob nearby the Collection.
Thomas, Alex De Cunha, Jenny Lomax and Anthony Green enjoying some good conversation in the sunshine.
Peter Fleissig meets the lovely Joanie Genser.
Norman Rosenthal brought along artist Martin Werthmann who can make diamonds out of his breath.
Michael King and his son Ryan and Claire Shea from CASS .
Then it was Bermondsey Modern whoops! I mean White Cube, big and impressive and what a heating bill!
Jill and I were being shown in the back of house some lovely prints by a young artist.
Another highlight of the week was Camden Arts centre - it felt like I was at a 176 opening, Nathalie Djurberg and Haroon Mizra got star billing. Haroon was showing his impressive installation to me.
David Bebber totaly engrossed in the work. It is a bit scary how great an artist Haroon is. If this guy does not stamp out a place in art history I will eat my hat!
Great photo of Lizzie, Hans Berg, Nathalie Djurberg, Jenni Lomax, Zach Feuer and Gio Marconi
Nathalie’s work was so wonderful, it was very elegant. It is called A World of Glass
Then after another evening of festive dinners and parties it was Frieze, which started with breakfast at Deutsche Bank who have one of the greatest collections in the world. Keith Tyson has a huge new commission adorning the walls of the bank. The question is: should we be saving our money in the bank or adorning our walls with beautiful pictures.? We were greeted by Roman Ondak at the door.
Free spirited Leila Huth and her lovely niece Isabel.
Then it was to work, the gates open and we are off..... Straight to Frieze Frame and I spot the Argentinian artist at the gallery Ignacio Liprandi. He is called Pablo Accinelli and the art is perfect.
Then we pass by T293 and from Naples and the gallerists are hard at work.
They show the work of Dan Rees, which I admire.
I discover a beautiful work by Siobhan Hapaska at Kerlin Gallery called Eternal Flame.
Liam my son spots Do Ho Suh at Lehmann Maupin.
The painting of Ellen Altfest at White Cube is unsurpassable I had to touch the canvas to make sure it was not collage.
Stefania Bortolami was hiding behind golden graffiti adorned by a Jesus painting by Aaron Young. Excited to see which direction he is moving in.
