‘At art fairs, galleries are thinking more about the way they present their work’
One half of the famous Lehmann Maupin gallery, David Maupin offers his views on galleries at art fairs, big shows in 2015 and a major new public installation
David Maupin, Hong Kong 2013
Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong
Which exhibition or event are you most looking forward to in 2015 and why?
One thing I’m really looking forward to — and which is happening really soon, at the end of February — is the opening of our new gallery space in Chelsea, New York, at 536 West 22nd Street. It was formerly Sonnabend gallery, and is just a great space — though it was with great sadness that we moved out of our Rem Koolhaas designed gallery on 26th Street in December.
We’re going to open with a two-gallery show spread across the space at West 22nd Street and our gallery at 201 Chrystie Street. The show will be a celebration of the gallery, making connections between what we've done in our 18-year history and where we're going in the future.
The artist in preparation for Liu Wei: Colors at the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art, Beijing
7 February 7 – 17 April, 2015. Courtesy the artist
I always look forward to Art Basel, and am on the selection committee for Art Basel Hong Kong. This year, the fair has been moved to March, and has a new design that’s going to be really exciting. The quality remains really great, and its going to retains it DNA; its roots are in Asia, but it’s also evolving in the premier international art fair in Asia.
On a personal note, I’m looking forward to Do Ho Suh's museum show in Cleveland, as well as an exhibition by artist Liu Wei, who we’re representing, at the Ullens Centre for Contemporary Art in Beijing in February. And our artist Roberto Cuoghi is having a solo show in Aspen at the same time, so that’s exciting.
What do you predict will be the most significant development, or the biggest talking point in art in 2015 and why?
That’s hard to say. I think there’s a lot of conversation about what the gallery space does and what art fairs do, and how they work together. Our gallery has become even more of an extension of the artist’s studio. It’s a place of experimentation, where the artist has complete control; there’s much more intimacy.
At fairs, booths have become more curated, and galleries are thinking more about the way they present their work; they’re much more sensitive to making the art fair booth really look like their gallery message. More curators and artists are going to art fairs, and more artists are the subject of solo booths at art fairs. So I think there’s conversation about how all these parts of the art world fit together — whether it’s the art fair, gallery space, or auction house.
Which artist most excites you right now and why?
That’s hard to say as I work with a group of artists. On the subject of art fairs, however, I’m really excited about our solo booth of Tracey Emin at ADAA in March, to feature bronze sculptures and paintings. I think this kind of focused experience at an art fair is important; it helps us to represent the artist, to really explain what they are about.
I'm also looking forward to our first gallery show of Chinese artist Xiang Jing in Hong Kong, as part of a two-person exhibition with Juergen Teller. We're also having our first New York gallery shows with Roberto Cuoghi, as well as Brazilian artists Os Gêmeos, both of which we’re very excited about.
Roberto Cuoghi, Senza Titolo (Untitled), 2014.
Styrofoam, ash, sand, painting and pine cone fragments. 122.05 x 66.93 in. (310 x 170 cm.)
Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong
Tell us about the project that you are working on/showcasing in 2015.
Teresita Férnandez, opening on April 30th at Madison Square Park — a monumental outdoor public sculpture which we’ve been working on for a long time. The artist currently has a show at MASS MoCA, but this is a big, public work, and something we’re really looking forward to.
Main image: Tracey Emin, The Heart Has Its Reasons, 2014. Patinated bronze with American black walnut plinth. Sculpture: 15.98 x 29.49 x 16.5 in. (40.6 x 74.9 x 41.9 cm). Plinth: 48.27 x 38.5 x 25.98 in. (122.6 x 97.8 x 66 cm.) Edition of 6. © Tracey Emin, Courtesy the artist and Lehmann Maupin, New York and Hong Kong. Photo: White Cube