The last few years have seen the rise of interior design. Television shows began to proliferate with varying degrees of success and design magazines flourished on newsstands.
It’s normal, in times of crisis, we tend to stay at home, protected. The interior becomes a cocoon supposed to protect us from the violence of the outside world. We then choose a decoration which resembles us with some pieces of art recovered in the large chains of arrangement of the interior. Except that they are often reproductions of well-known lithographs or photographs but few original works by contemporary artists.
Why? Some people rightly think that they know nothing about it and prefer to leave it to the experts. Others think they cannot acquire a work because they cannot afford it. Finally, for many, contemporary art is a world of elitists that does not correspond to them at all. Others do not dare to take the step of an art gallery because they think they do not correspond to the usual clientele.
What about you? Wouldn’t you like to have a work of art by a contemporary artist in your living room? No, you think this is a sweet dream? This dream can now become reality thanks to the Affordable Art Fair. From May 27 to 30, 2010, the Affordable Art Fair invests the Halle Freyssinet, in the 13th arrondissement near the BnF, for its third edition.
But what is The Affordable Art Fair (AAF)? The AAF is the largest contemporary art fair in the world, accessible, cheerful and friendly, offering art in a different way with a single credo: to bring together artists, collectors, professionals and the general public through contemporary art of proximity and above all quality. With an implacable concept, allow everyone to own contemporary art with no work over 7000€. This fair, which started in London ten years ago, brings together some sixty French and international galleries and is held in turn throughout the year in a dozen cities around the world, from Sydney to Bristol, via New York and Brussels. Last year, these different editions welcomed more than 120,000 visitors, surpassing the FIAC or the Art Basel in Miami.
Yann Bombard, co-founder of AAF Paris explains: “One is not born a collector, one becomes one. It’s a journey: you get interested in more and more subtle and complex things. Before being a collector, you have to be a buyer and there are few offers for buyers because many galleries are only interested in collectors, hence the result of the recent BVA survey for Art Paris (only 20% of respondents imagine buying in a gallery).“
To reinforce the proximity of this event, the AAF has asked a decorator, an art critic, an expert, a collector and a blogger to each make a “favorite” journey among the works exhibited. Thus, follow the blogger Guillaume Crouzet’s path, you can discover a lot of works for less than 200 €. Lose yourself in the aisles through the galleries and awaken your sensibility by becoming a simple buyer.
Along the aisles, you will discover young quality artists who offer their work for 100, 300 or 500 € but you can also find less expensive pieces. And our dear ephemeral tattoos of contemporary artists TINK-IK have a small stand there, go and see them. New and free services are also planned with coaching, children’s area, workshop for all, restaurant, bar, coffee, delivery and packaging service, as well as festive animations.
As for Nicolas Laugero Lasserre’s collection, one cannot help but admire Ellen Von Unwerth’s photographic prints, the elegant simplicity of a black and white canvas with shades of gray by JonOne or the assertive art demonstration of a stencil by MissTic. And to see him so young, he is only 35 years old, one remains astonished in front of a collection of such quality. Nicolas Laugero Lasserre has built up a collection of more than a hundred works acquired over the last 10 years at less than 7000€. Director of the Espace Cardin since 2002, he is the founder of Artistik Rezo, a cultural media on the Internet which gathers 200,000 members.
But take advantage of this last day to bring your mother; it could be a very nice gift. Or simply treat yourself and enjoy the splendid photos of John Kerry offered by the Capital Culture gallery.
Treat yourself to contemporary art at the Affordable Art Fair. Or start your new life as a contemporary art collector like me!
Marie-Odile Radom
Affordable Art Fair Paris
Halle Freyssinet
55 boulevard Vincent Auriol, Paris 13e
ADMISSION PRICE:
13* and free for under-18s.
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