As part of its journey through the major contemporary art centers worldwide, this issue of Flash Art International explores one of the biggest of them all. Focus London unpicks the celebrated London scene, with a special highlight on the latest news and developments.
Thanks to the opinions of the most attentive and prominent art critics, this Flash Art survey represents a map of the youngest and full-of-initiative galleries, including nonprofit and artist-run project spaces.
Looking ahead to the Olympics, how do the institutions and the museums in London change? The artists, the writers, the curators and the art dealers that we have interviewed, along with directors of some of the major London institutions, provide us with an up-to-date portrait of the city that hosts a surprising number of visitors from all over the world this time each year.
We have gathered together the points of view of professionals, artists and critics to create a broad and relevant survey. As a key figure in London’s artist community, Richard Wentworth discusses his vision of how the urban landscape has been formed over the last years. Melissa Gronlund presents the new and emerging elements of London’s contemporary art scene that you should try at least once. One of the protagonists of the London scene, Mike Nelson, is interviewed in his studio on the periphery of London by Michele Robecchi: the artist’s psyco-buildings are at the core of their conversation. Finally, through the Artists Dictionary, Flash Art offers a select group of 80 of the most exciting London-based artists; whether they be part of an emerging generation or the international establishment.
This issue’s inquiry shows us how much London still reigns supreme over the main centers of contemporary art in Europe and demonstrates to us how artists are collaborating on new initiatives.
Flash Art would like to thank all the correspondents, writers, curators, artists, dealers and collectors who strongly supported this project and who participated in this Focus London with valued opinions.
