The Review

This year’s SCOPE Art Fair, currently debuting in New York before it moves on to Basel, is the ideal opportunity to sample some of the freshest art being made around the globe by some relatively unknown artists. Inside the large tent erected in Lincoln Center’s Damrosch park, an array of US and international galleries have congregated to display some of their finest works, each with the underlying hope that one of these might sell.

Although you might not necessarily be in the market to buy, SCOPE certainly offers the chance for artistic education, and visual stimulation. This gamut of paintings, sculptures, photographs and installations is varied enough to indulge any taste for compelling contemporary art.

If you’re into photography, head to amani olu projects, where you can check out beautiful photographic works by Bradley Peters and Michael Bühler-Rose. Or, if you’ve got a penchant for the scientific, Ryan Wolfe’s Branching Systems, 2008 might be of particular interest. This unique installation piece integrates digital technology with the arts by presenting a dispersed mass of plastic leaves that flap loudly according to the principles of chaos theory.

But in my opinion, Mike Weiss Gallery is the star of the show, exhibiting an impressive and varied selection of works. Their most notable series is one by Allison Schulnik, which includes a video titled Hobo Clown, 2008 – a disturbing and dark exploration of paint and color.

Although Sunday is the final day, I strongly recommend taking the time to explore the fair’s crowded alcoves. And remember, if you don’t have the chance to see it this weekend, you can always jet over to Basel in June - I heard that Net-Jets are running a special. For the rest of us, SCOPE will also be showing in the Hamptons from the 23rd to the 26th of July. [WBP]