The visionary artist's sweeping public commissions throughout London spark riveting conversation on the abstract and the memorial for a global audience. Here, Hornby imparts to Whitewall the singular opportunity at Frieze to connect with the thoughts and feelings of hundreds of artists, and where to enjoy delicious Italian fare.
London-based artist Nick Hornby began his intuitive creative journey at Slade School of Art and Chelsea College of Art, developing an exploratory practice centered on art-historical critique and queer identity. Skillfully utilizing avante-garde digital technologies, Hornby produces compelling objects of rich organic materials such as granite, bronze, and steel. The visionary's sweeping public commissions throughout London spark riveting conversation on the abstract and the memorial for a global audience. Whitewall had the opportunity to speak to Hornby about the magic of Frieze London and Frieze Masters this year, as well as where to unwind with the perfect late night drink.
Portrait Of Nick Hornby By Amelia Allen, Courtesy Of The Artist.
WHITEWALL: As an artist, what are you looking forward to seeing and doing this week in London?
NICK HORNBY: I love the fair. Some people find the identical white booths overwhelming and repetitive, but I love its vastness and its indexical nature. I find the uniformity appeals to my desire to analyze and compartmentalize, stripping away gallery differences and leaving a simple clarity. I see the fair as a vast data set revealing current fashions and feelings…I think it's an incredible opportunity to locate yourself in the present moment and see how your understanding of the world compares with all these hundreds of artists.
"I think it's an incredible opportunity to locate yourself in the present moment and see how your understanding of the world compares with all these hundreds of artists,"
Nick Hornby
WW: What exhibitions or events are on your must-see/must-do list?
NH: The Frieze Masters Talks curated by Sheena Wagstaff and Shanay Jhaveri are a must do…a moment to stand still and think and a backbone to everything you'll see during the week. I find the abrupt gear-shift between Frieze Contemporary and Frieze Masters incredible…first being immersed wholly in the present day and then walking through the tent spanning over 2000+ years…I find that whiplash really exciting. And of course Frieze Sculpturecurated by Fatoş Üstek (I'll flag up a beautiful work by my friend Nika Neelova who's made a fictional archeological floor-counterintuitively flat for an outdoor sculpture park).
Beyond the fair…Lygia Clark and Sonia Boyce at Whitechapel, Bacon at NPG, Michael Craig-Martin at RA, and Robert Longo at Ropac.
"The Frieze Masters Talks curated by Sheena Wagstaff and Shanay Jhaveri are a must do,"
Nick Hornby
Favorites Restaurants and Late Night Drink Spots
WW: During such a hectic week, what are your favorite spots to grab a bite and to relax/find a bit of respite?
NH: Away from the Fair, but just next to my studio, is the newly opened Ladbroke Hall-the HQ for Carpenters Workshop and a new cultural center housed in a former 1903 car factory. It includes an incredible restaurant Pollini-delicious Italian and perfect lunch or dinner. The space is vast with an oversized sculptural chandelier by Nacho Carbonell and four vast paintings by Christopher Le Brun. I'll spend my evenings at the newly opened Kensington Roof Gardens (which I'm afraid is a private members club-but they have three of my sculptures there and have kindly welcomed me as well) or in the Dome at Koko-the perfect late night drink.
The Best of London According to Nick Hornby:
1. Embark on the Wonder of Frieze London and Frieze Masters 2024
Courtesy Of Frieze London.
2. Visit Nacho Carbonell's "Escaping Forward" at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
3. Don't Miss Lygia Clark and Sonia Boyce in Dialogue at Whitechapel
This Autumn, Whitechapel Gallery presents two exhibitions especially conceived to be in dialogue with each other. Lygia Clark: The I and the You and Sonia Boyce: An Awkward Relation explore pivotal moments in the artists’ careers, where each began experimenting with participatory practices.
4. Dine at the Award-Winning Pollini at Ladbroke Hall
5. Explore the House of Koko in London
Dome Cocktail Bar; Courtesy Of House Of Koko, London.
Steeped in over 122 years of history, The House of KOKO presents an immersive series of spaces injecting adventure into the members’ club experience. Lose yourself in a hidden world sprawling across four floors of exquisite, carefully considered design backstage at London’s iconic KOKO theatre. A look inside The House reveals just a glimpse of the countless exceptional spaces and experiences that members can enjoy, day and night. From decadent dinners cooked on the warm Stage Kitchen’s open fire, to late nights with your personal bartender in the hidden vinyl rooms, to the thrill of finding secret Door 101 and dancing the night away on the KOKO stage… — Source