The galleries Perrotin and Simon Lee introduced a collaborative presentation at Art Basel this week—a solo show of art by Bernard Frize. Utilizing their neighboring spaces at the fair, the galleries created a unique display dedicated to the renowned French artist’s major works.
The works on view at the fair showcase the tension within Frize’s decisive, process-oriented paintings. The artist often creates in a series, following an idea or pattern until it has been exhausted. Frize’s carefully practiced discipline yields lively abstract works that feel both controlled, yet free.
View of the artist’s studio in Paris, 2018 Photo by Claire Dorn
“In general, Frize’s paintings have a certain lightness, maybe because of the flat surfaces created through the use of resin, which makes all colors seem to merge into one layer. There are no existential battles visible here. But the lightness or playfulness is mixed with a serious tone and awareness of what it means to paint in an era that is densely populated with images,” curator Jurriaan Benschop has said of the artist’s work.
The Frize presentation is Perrotin and Simon Lee’s second collaboration at the fair, following the Hans Hartung solo show last year. Make sure you check it out this week in Basel (the fair closes June 17).
View of Bernard Frize’s studio in Berlin, 2018 Photo by Claire Dorn, edited by Tanguy Beurdeley.
