A Thriving Profusion of Creativity: The First Impressions of DAF Frankfurt 2024

The seventh edition of the Discovery Art Fair in Frankfurt is now open, and the first impression is that it is diverse!

Right upon entering the fair grounds, we are welcomed by a cohort of humanoid sculptures. They are people like us, commemorated in one of the most traditional and dominant materials this year — wood. Walking around the fair, we encounter one strong position after the other, depicting an abundance of voices, creativity, and vantage points.

While this sort of artistic profusion testifies to a live and booming art production, it can pose a challenge for the observer, who is compelled to study the fair booths by stopping by them more than once.

But this is a good thing!

We, as viewers, are positively dared to really, deeply engage with art, to start the conversation with the artists and gallerists, while we are offered an immense of collectible art to choose from.

Do you enjoy miniatures? Big abstractions? Or do you have a space for an inspiring sculpture?

Come and join us at Frankfurt’s leading art fair right now!

Sculpture Steals the Floor

This year, the Discovery Art Fair team invited a great number of contemporary sculptors to exhibit. And they responded with excitement. The result is that the central exhibition space is densely populated with heterogeneous contemporary sculptures, ranging from abstract to realistic in theme and from paper to steel in material. We cannot overlook the prevalence of wood as the material of choice, which gives this sculptural extravaganza a particularly local character.

Blue is the Key Color

Finding a single thread among the themes and representations at the fair is hard because there are many. However, there is a chromatic connection between many different works, transcending both the concept and context. Many artworks at the fair are immersed in — blue.

Forever out of our reach, the color of the sky and sea still presents a profound inspiration for many. We can find it in reflective surfaces, representations of water, or in Yves Klein-esque abstract studies. Blue works are everywhere, cerulean accents permeate the exhibition, and visitors are invited to explore and savor the most spiritual of hues.

A New Focus on Performances

Two performances marked the first day at Frankfurt’s art fair, marking a significant shift in the event’s programming. Performance, as a museal collectible, was rarely at the forefront of our popular art fair, but as it evolved, the social and cultural impact grew, and including more performances into the program came naturally.

Cuno Sauerteig gave the first performance of the afternoon, a reprise of his well-known “Kopferl im Beton”, where he encased his own head in a quick-drying concrete mix, followed by a brief stroll through the exhibition floor. Using his body to exert a powerful message, Sauerteig gave life to a blunt metaphor, inviting the audience to revisit their personal egos and narcissistic stances.

The latter performance was conducted by one of the art.lab representatives, Kadir Amigo Memis, who engaged in a culturally imbued dance with a traditional carpet, connecting his heritage with contemporary movement.

In the coming days, we are expecting more exciting mini-events and look forward to new audiences.

Come and discover new art with us!