James Nares Puts Poetry in Motion

Supported by ANEST COLLECTIVE, the one-year anniversary of Frieze’s No.9 Cork Street was marked by a special spoken word performance by artist James Nares, whose first UK solo show ‘All I Know’ was presented by Kasmin Gallery at No.9 Cork Street during Frieze Week in London.

Established in 2017, ANEST COLLECTIVE was born out of a desire to create a delicately considered line of clothing and accessories, creating a universe that references, art architecture and design. This approach extends to their approach to collaborations, which has seen them partner collections with commissions from artists including Sam Lock, Rachel Thomas and Kei Yoshino, channelling the brand’s belief in ‘limitless spirit’ by presenting the creativity of others as well as its own.

For their most recent commission, James Nares responds to the concept for ANEST COLLECTIVE’s autumn campaign, ‘fragmentation’. For the performance, Nares presents a selection of her journal entries — a prelude to the artist’s upcoming publication — as slides, sharing through her voice fragments of her life, fiction and lyricism, “re.marks” on memories, experiences, and dreams.

Nares’ performance provides an entry point into the personal thoughts behind her practice of the last five decades, focusing on an expansive concern for ‘things in motion’ and ‘motion in things’.

No.9 Cork Street first opened its doors in October 2021 in the heart of London’s Mayfair, hosting international galleries, short-term exhibitions and projects. Divided across three floors, No. 9 Cork Street includes a dedicated event space, where Nares’s performance took place, which regularly presents a dynamic range of events spanning artist talks, performances, screenings, and private receptions.