Synopsis
Review of the 2006 Frieze Fair.
When the founders of Frieze magazine, Matthew Slotover and Amanda Sharp, announced in 2003 that they would hold a contemporary art fair in Regent’s Park, doubters abounded. The notion of such a high-end event taking place in a tent, in a park, in London, in rainy October seemed ill-advised. Even if no works got soaked or stolen, art world insiders noted a more fundamental problem: Charles Saatchi aside, Britain’s collector-base pales in comparison to continental rivals such as Germany, Belgium and Switzerland – let alone America. Luckily, the non-doms saved the day (until Brexit...)
