Affordable Art Fair 2018 in Hampstead: What to see (and buy)

The Affordable Art Fair re-opens its doors this year in the idyllic scenery of Hampstead Heath. The exhibition space offers the opportunity to navigate across the latest trends in art – from paintings to sculpture and 3D-effect creations –  within a friendly environment. The cost of the artwork ranges from £80 to £6,000, making the event one of the most economical places to be for buyers who wish to decorate and embellish their favourite spaces at reasonable prices.

The fair is also characterised by the great variety of styles and motives on display. The 118 galleries gathered under the same roof come from as far as Seoul and Ontario, to the nearby Brighton and London itself.

“Contemporary” is the only real connecting thread, so as to meet as many tastes as possible. As a result, there is something for everyone. However, there are few recurring themes.

Animals are one of the favourite subjects. The Doorway Gallery features two impressive figurative artists who have chosen majestic horses as the subject of medium-sized oil and charcoal works. And while Obsidian Gallery focuses on the gentleness of small mice in familiar buildings, Galerie Septentrion offers mighty elephants and bears in resized sculptures.

Landscapes are also easy to spot. The beautiful, dense blue skies covering fresh meadows by Nigel Wood (Turning Tides Contemporary Art) are some of the finest to see. Moving to urban views, the polychromatic pieces of Artitled Contemporary are mesmerising. Visitors will find themselves walking under the familiar Camden Lock bridge and along double deckers, yet there is a feeling of desolation to the uninhabited London paintings by Tom White. The intriguing vanishing points of Dulm (Eclectic Gallery) enticingly invite the viewer to get lost in the colourful acrylics.

However, the best comes in the form of the dynamic work of the many artists illustrating pop culture and iconic movie stars – with Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe appearing the most in the corridors. The fascination with this golden age is the main inspiration for printmaker David Studwell, who adds glittery layers on top of the canvas to create textures. In a world where VR and 3D technology are easily on hand for everyone, the optical illusion and fragmentation of Monroe’s face by Nemo Jantzen (Galerie Envie D’Art) proves to be an interesting artwork to get close to – but also to watch further away, if you don’t want to miss the underlying image. More provocative are the creations by Oliw87 (Absolut Art) who uses graffiti techniques to desecrate the powerful perfume bottle of Chanel, in complete antithesis with the fashionable residents of Stockholm.

The fantastic Ego Man Army by Nam Tran is the fitting bridge between the past and the present, the perfect creative connection to introduce the diverse contemporary artworks which one can appreciate at this unique fair.

Cristiana Ferrauti
Photos: Filippo L’Astorina

Affordable Art Fair 2018 is at Hampstead Heath from 10^th May until 13^th May 2018. For further information visit the exhibition’s website here.