Frieze Sculpture 2021: a living, political return to London

Frieze Sculpture 2021: a living, political and intergenerational return

With the latest restrictions only increasing the appetite for outdoor art consumption, Frieze Sculpture 2021 is attracted by the crowd to Regent’s Park. From 13 to 17 October 2021, the exhibition overlaps with Frieze London, as the fair marks a significant return to the capital.

This year’s striking sculptural offerings confront themes including architecture, displacement, geopolitical power structures, environmental concerns and endangered futures. Participants are international and intergenerational, including Rasheed Araeen, Daniel Arsham, Anthony Caro, Gisela Colón, José Pedro Croft, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Stoyan Dechev, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Divya Mehra, Annie Morris, Isamu Noguchi, Jorge Otero-Pailos , Solange Pessoa, Vanessa da Silva, Tatiana Wolska, Rose Wylie and Yunizar.

‘Sculptural conversations across time and geography’

‘Each installation of Frieze Sculpture brings such a different picture of sculptural practice, and it is encouraging that this year is particularly global, including artists heralding from South America, South and North Africa, Indonesia, Pakistan, USA and Canada and from all over Europe, says Clare Lilley, program director at Yorkshire Sculpture Park, which is creating Frieze Sculpture for the ninth year. ‘Although the artists span three generations, I see intriguing sculptural conversations across time and geography, and although many sculptures here relate to social and environmental concerns, there is a much greater color and deft handling of material, resulting in an overall feeling, which is festive. ‘

In an exciting new addition, Serpentine Galleries and Sumayya Vally, founder of architectural practice Counterspace (profiled in the Wallpaper’s May 2021 edition) will present Fragment of the Serpentine Pavilion for Frieze Sculpture Park, 2021, marking the first time a public institution has participated in Frieze Sculpture. As Lilley concludes: ‘When we learn to live with the pandemic and emerge in public spaces, the Frieze Sculpture 2021 allows people to come together in safety and with joy and is a tonic for mind, body and soul.’

Frieze Sculpture 2021: in pictures

Modrum, Fragment of the Serpentine Pavilion

Isamu Noguchi, Sculpture cards

Vanessa da Silva, Muamba Grove # 1, # 3 & # 4

Annie Morris, Stack 9, Ultramarine Blue

Rasheed Araeen, Lovers at Regent’s Park

Rose Wylie, Pineapples

Yunizar, Monster mother

Tatiana Wolska, Untitled (modules 1 and 2)