Highlights include Luxembourg & Dayan (USA) gallery who have just opened a new London space to coincide with the fair. They will be debuting with works of modern art by Alexander Calder, Steven Parrino and Anselm Kiefer. Their exhibition at 2 Saville Row, W1S 3PA, ‘The Enemy of Painting is Gray’ (until 23 December) celebrates the ‘grisaille’ technique, the use of restrained, near-monochromatic shades of gray by artists that goes back as far as the 14^th century. Seminal pieces by Frank Stella, Jasper Johns and Daniel Buren will be juxtaposed with a Northern Renaissance altarpiece, a 17^th century seascape, and a sample of early-19^th century decorative wallpaper. ‘The Enemy of Painting is Gray’ is a beautiful, visual chart of the technique’s history and proposed legacy.

 

Adrian Sassoon, the UK’s leading dealer in contemporary ceramics, glass, silver and jewellery, returns to PAD with an exquisite work of design. At first glance, Vinculum II, 2011, by Michel Eden is a neon, contemporary take on ancient decorative arts (see above). However, as well as offering a visual feast for it’s viewers, the intricate and elaborate trophy is also interactive. Made by Additive Layer Manufacturing from a high quality nylon material with a purple soft mineral coating, Vinculum II builds on the artist’s latest theme: his exploration of QR Codes. Viewed from above, the piece resembles a fully interactive code the viewer can scan with their smart phone, which then takes them to a web page specifically created to accompany the piece. Vinculum II is a powerful work combining the visual pleasure of the past with modern technology and purposefulness, and is on sale for £9,000.

 

Once again Moët Hennessysponsors the donation of a significant piece of Design or Decorative Arts to the Victoria & Albert. The judging panel, chaired by architect and designer Nigel Coates, is comprised of prominent figures in the fields of art, fashion, culture, communication and business, such as Allegra Hicks, Jasper Conran, Tom Dixon, Bella Freud, Karla Otto, and Apollo’s own Editor, Oscar Humphries.

 

The success of this week’s London fair will determine predictions for the launch of PAD New York in November, a new fair at the Park Avenue Armory to coincide with New York’s autumn auctions. With four successful years of the London fair and its Parisian counterpart, Pavillon des Arts et du Design Paris, now it its 15th year, PAD New York has high hopes and there is even talk of a Milan edition in 2012 to overlap with the Salone Internazionale del Mobile.

 

Pavilion of Art & Design London 2011 will open on Berkeley Square, London W1, from 12 - 16 October 2011, 11:00 - 19:00 daily. For more information see www.padlondon.net

 

Image Credit: Vinculum II, 2011 by Michel Eden. Made by Additive Layer Manufacturing from a high quality nylon material with a purple soft mineral coating. 33 x 27 x 18 cm. £ 9,000. Courtesy of Adrian Sassoon gallery.

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