For those who haven’t found their way to the elongated white tent on Randall’s Island, be prepared to see a lot of abstract pieces and very little figurative work (you will find the opposite is true at Art New York and Context New York). Nevertheless, you will be greeted by a giant (and somewhat frightening) baby balloon by Alex Da Corte commissioned for the front of the North entrance, part of Frieze Prrojects.

Upon entering, you’ll first notice the joint booth of Schipper and Johnen showing two conceptual pieces by Liam Gillick: a suspended lamp Discussion Retribution Rig (1997), and what can be described as a pile of cut wood assembled into a cone, When do we need more tractors Five Plans(1999). In addition to these pieces, several amethyst sculptures by Angela Bulloch, and works by Ryan Gander and Matty Braun are also on view. Not too far away, Kamel Mennour is showing more discreetly a very singularly colored sculpture by Anish Kapoor. Further along, Hauser & Wirth is showing work by Roni Horn. The series is a set of short cylinders made of solid cast glass placed intermittently on the gallery’s floor; the urge you’ll feel to sit on them must imperatively be resisted.

We enjoyed the wondrous urn by Alicia Framis, Cartas al Cielo (Cards to the Sky) and the beautiful large-scale canvas by Jiri Dokoupil, all on display at Aizpuru. Across from the Spanish gallery, Shanghart’s sculptural installation by Xu Zhen/Made In New (Hercules) and New (Marsyas) shouldn’t be missed, as well as neighboring Lehmann Maupin’s installation of Ashley Bickerton’s Style piece/headtrip installation.

Those inquisitive enough to wander in the back of Goodman Gallery will find Mikhael Subotzky‘s breathtaking inkjet photographic prints series “I was looking back” (2007-2012). Jack Shainman is showing an unexpected but compelling piece by Carlos Vega Who is Malala (2016), where the Pakistani heroine is depicted surrounded symmetrically by small circular capsules, each enclosing the image of a female icon (Oprah Winfrey, The Virgin Marie, Marilyn Monroe…).

Viewers enamored of wordplay in art will be delighted by the sight of Alfredo Jaar’s two pieces featured at Gallerie Lelong: Tonight No Poetry Will Serve (2013) and I Can’t Go On. I’ll Go On. (2016). Equally, in the Spotlight section Lea Lublin’s series Interrogation Sur l’Art, at booth D27, forces deep reflection on the use of words. As you stroll around Spotlight, be prepared for François Morellet’s psychedelically reinvented cublicle (D35) at Galerie Herve Bizé.

Some works stood out as unusually treasurable in the sanitized context provided by Frieze, notably the earthy and poetic paintings by Swedish artist, Andreas Eriksson, on view at Stephen Friedman, and Liz Larner’s ceramic gemstone piece on view at The Modern Institute. These works added an essential note to the dynamics of the fair.

Make sure to swing by the larger galleries to take a look at their solo shows, notably Iza Genzken at David Zwirner, and Damien Hirst at Gagosian.

Matty Braun

What to See This Weekend at Frieze