Ben Broome’s Selections from Frieze London’s ‘Focus’, supported by Stone Island

As the Official Partner of Focus, Stone Island is offering each of the participating galleries at Frieze London a bursary. This support aids emerging galleries to participate in Focus with presentations by today’s most forward-thinking artists, underscoring a commitment to experimentation, innovation and creative community.

Founded in Italy in 1982, Stone Island has consistently pushed fabric technology and experimentation, particularly focusing on functionality and utilitarianism.

Frieze and Stone Island have invited London-based independent curator and writer Ben Broome to create a video guide to explore Focus at this year’s Frieze London, released in October 2023. In the meantime, read Broome’s picks from Focus on the Frieze Viewing Room below.

JACK O’BRIEN

Slow Circle, 2023

Soft pastel, spray paint, photographic print mounted on aluminium, heat-formed PETG plastic, white vest, chrome-plated steel, epoxy putty, metal cable-ties, 61 x 47 x 19 cm

Presented by Ginny on Frederick 

Considering the production of desire in both fashion and art-world contexts, Jack O’Brien collages painting, ready-mades and photography in these new works. The wall sculptures possess a wonderfully ephemeral quality as though they're waiting to be ripped apart as a child would with a blister-packaged toy. O’Brien’s meld of mediums and references really gets me going.

ADAM FARAH-SAAD

Orange clouds roll by, they burn into your image and you’re still alive, 2022

C-Type print, CD jewel cases, red-coated steel shelves, 70 x 60 x 25 cm

Presented by Public Gallery

Adam Farah-Saad’s solo exhibition at Camden Arts Centre was a highlight of 2021 for me. I’d expect Farah-Saad to approach the Frieze booth as he would the institutional space, in which case we’re in for some uncompromising large-scale installation clashing the sights and sounds of London’s suburbs with cruising culture, and long-defunct music technologies.

JOSEFINE REISCH

Boom! (Der Drache), 2023

Oil paint, dye and screen print on cotton and silk moiré, 160 x 75 cm

Presented by Galerie Noah Klink

Referencing English novelist titans Virginia Woolf and Daphne du Maurier, Reisch’s delicate oil-painted textiles feel simultaneously historical and very much of the now. These works are carefully considered in execution and immaculately conceived in exhibition – Noah Klink wouldn’t deliver anything less.

JORDAN STRAFER

LOOPHOLE, 2023

Single-channel video with sound, 24 min 36 sec

Presented by Hot Wheels and Heidi

Hot Wheels and Heidi collaborating on the presentation of a single video work at Frieze is testament to the fact that it’s the smaller galleries taking the big risks and flying the flag for the cutting edge. If their respective programmes are anything to go by, Jordan Strafer's LOOPHOLE will be a big highlight. Needless to say I’m a fan!

LEON XU

Wash my sins away, 2023

Acrylic and airbrush on canvas, 71.1 x 91.4 cm

Presented by Helena Anrather

Leon Xu’s airbrush paintings, often depicting daily life in the metropolis, are fleeting – hazy images reminding you of a moment past or of something lost. Xu’s work, like a scene from a Wong Kar-wai movie, is both tender and jarring, narrative-based and abstract. Leon is a true favourite of mine.

About Ben Broome

 

Ben Broome is a London-based independent curator & writer.

FURTHER INFORMATION

About Frieze Viewing Room

Frieze Viewing Room is a free digital platform connecting global audiences with Frieze’s galleries and artists.



Open to all from 4–18 October, Frieze Viewing Room is the catalogue for Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2023 offering visitors a preview of the wealth of gallery presentations coming to the fair, as well as the chance for audiences around the world to experience and acquire the artwork on show. 

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^{Main image: Jordan Strafer, Loophole, 2023. Video still. Courtesy of the artist, Heidi and Hot Wheels Athens}