The massive Armory Show convened in New York City this week, bringing together nearly 200 art galleries from 31 countries and drawing art admirers from around the world. Hari Sreenivasan talks with Nicole Berry, the fair’s executive director, about some of this year’s notable pieces.
HARI SREENIVASAN:
On the edge of Manhattan’s West Side highway is a 24 foot tall mural by the French artist JR. He’s known for enormous portraits displayed in public. This one is a mix of the faces of Syrian refugees he photographed in Jordan, superimposed over archival images of immigrants who came to Ellis Island. JR’s piece is called “So Close,” and it’s the first thing 65,000 visitors are likely to see at this year’s Armory Show. Nearly 200 galleries from dozens of countries take over two piers on the Hudson River to show off their best and brightest artists. The fair draws curators and art enthusiasts from around the world.
I spoke with the art fair’s Executive Director Nicole Berry.
HARI SREENIVASAN:
So tell me a little bit about this. What’s the reaction to this piece by JR been?
NICOLE BERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ARMORY SHOW:
So he’s really focusing on obviously topics that are relevant to the cultural climate. We as an art fair don’t make any political statements but we– part of the mission of this art fair is and has been since its founding 24 years ago is to showcase work that’s being created now.
HARI SREENIVASAN:
So the fair is kind of a snapshot of what is on the mind of artists right now?
NICOLE BERRY:
Absolutely, absolutely. We have curated sections, large scale–The JR piece is part of that large scale work as is a piece right here by Tara Donovan.
HARI SREENIVASAN:
Brooklyn-based artist Tara Donovan arranged tens of thousands of plastic tubes from eight feet tall down to a few inches.
NICOLE BERRY:
So Tara Donovan is taking a utilitarian product. They are just plastic tubes that you might put a poster in or something.