With the economy sitting on the flat side, and not a lot of discretional spending around, a nervous air hung heavy leading into this year’s edition of the art fair, its ninth since starting in 2013. That said, Sydney Contemporary did feel different – but not in the way that I was expecting.
Across the 114 galleries and artist collectives showing at Sydney Contemporary, there was a distinct shift in how galleries approached this market opportunity, and in the way they drove visibility – and sales – to their booths.
On the one hand, the fair overall felt fresh and quirky – a fair that was trying to have some fun. The real heroes were unexpected, with the boldest moves coming from New Zealand galleries and a number of second tier Australian galleries – the ones with the most to lose. It demonstrated just how robust the sector could be. Let’s face it, gallery closures over the past 12-18 months have been on the rise.......
This message – to take a different approach this year – was signalled even before punters entered Carriageworks, with an expansive kinetic installation by Aotearoa New Zealand artist Lisa Reihana CNZM, in collaboration with Gallery Sally Dan-Cuthbert.
