ad hoc

Will the credit crunch affect the global art market? It seems almost inevitable, but, if we are to believe experts, sales are holding up and investing in visual art is still popular. Nevertheless, if you’re not in the mood for a shopping spree at Frieze, you could always walk down the road to the Free Art Fair (14, 19, 21 New Quebec Street and 5, 8, 16 Seymour Place, Portman Village, London W1H), which seems the ad hoc event for such austere times…

books [1]

I have 4 books on my desk. I’m trying to read them all at once, and miserably failing. The two volumes I’m more interested in are The $12 million stuffed shark (the curious economics of contemporary art and auction houses) by Don Thompson, and Vitamin D, new perspectives in drawing edited by Emma Dexter and published by Phaidon. The first one is, so far, very entertaining and it gives a good insight into the commercial aspect of contemporary art. The second is great for a quick browse and, when time permits, a good source for up-and-coming artists (although it was published in 2005). Guess I’ll have to buy the other Phaidon catalogues Vitamin P (painting), Vitamin Ph (photography), and also the product design anthology &fork. I’m turning into a book collector. Help.

[imgs via foyles.co.uk]