Issue 137 out now
In the March issue of frieze, Peter Schjeldahl examines the use of pronouns, cites a good example of writing in Wallace Stevens and even makes a case for his profession:‘Attention Artists! Perhaps you employ language in your work. You may be highly literate. But you don’t have to say what your art means or even is about. Furthermore, don’t do that. It’s my job. You make the stuff. Let critics talk about it. Making is superior to talking, so you have the better end of the deal.’
Dan Fox finds a new model for an institutional operation in south east Brazil: ‘Visiting Instituto Inhotim is quite unlike any other art experience I have had; there is a walking trail through paradisical gardens, where, hidden in palm groves or setting serenely by the side of a lake, the visitor can find Modernist-style pavilions housing works by Brazilian artists and high-profile international names.’
Negar Azimi asks whether so-called socially engaged art can really effect change; Sam Thorne considers the seductive deception of the work of Daniel Sinsel and, following a major commission from the Louvre, Taiwanese director Tsai Ming-liang talks to Erik Morse.
Jennifer Bornstein considers the photography of curator Sam Wagstaff, who not only collected, supported and promoted other people’s photography but produced over 7,000 photographs of his own.
In our regular columns, Robert Storr argues that the Smithsonian Institution has failed the basic tenets of the US nation; Sean O’Toole considers the disputed legacy of South African painter J H Pierneef; Jennifer Allen upholds the use of ‘Globish’; and Tirdad Zolghadr questions the habits of the art world’s frequent flyers.
Plus: new museums in the Middle East; Matt Mullican; Hypnagogic pop; Gilles Barbier; Amanda Ross-Ho; Jess Flood-Paddock; Margarete Jakschik.
On the back page, Cory Arcangel answers the ‘Questionnaire’.
Reviews include Simon Starling at The Modern Institute, Glasgow and Camden Arts Centre, London; ‘Beyond/In Western New York’, Buffalo; Michal Helfman at Sommer Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv; Absalon at KW Institute, Berlin; No Grupo at Museo de Arte Moderno, Mexico City; Liu Xiaodong at Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing; Jack Strange at Limoncello, London and Mandala Reuter at Francesca Minini, Milan.
Exclusively Online
To celebrate 20 years of frieze magazine, throughout 2011 the editors will be inviting a range of writers, artists and curators from around the world to pick their favourite ten articles from the magazine archive as well as their favourite frieze cover frieze.com/20
Plus, Stephanie Bailey reviews Wasted Youth, the independent Greek film that premiered at the 40th International Film Festival Rotterdam.
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