We’re Looking For You – The Centennial Armory Show report Pt.1

Homage to Marcel Duchamp. Installation view at DODGEgallery, New York (Armory Focus: USA) Photo by M-KOS

As always since 1913, Armory held this year an impressive show at Piers 92 & 94 in New York City, on the extended weekend of 7-10 March. The world’s oldest art fair surprisingly made little fanfare of its centennial edition, other than to boast historical landmarks on its website. Hardly any educational effort was exerted outside of VIP conferences, for example to nod at the initial 69th Armory Regiment venue, which the fair got its name from. Some exhibitors such as DODGEgallery and Francis M. Naumann Fine Art (both New York based) did theme their booth on iconic works by Marcel Duchamp, recalling his impact at the inaugural show, one hundred years ago.

Detail from the Armory Show tote bag conceptualized by Liz Magic Laser, Armory 2013 commissioned artist. Photo by M-KOS

Indeed the focus here was clearly mercantile and the fair has been criticized for many years about this. Liz Magic Laser, this year’s commissioned artist, took a tongue-in-cheek approach to Armory’s brand-pushing visual identity, with a blandly designed brochure and tote bag, which on the latter was printed “An average size booth at The Armory Show costs $24,000 […]” as well as a series of video edits entitled “The Armory Show Focus Group”. Meanwhile, the contemporary wing of the art fair was well attended and populated by a balanced selection of works from leading to emerging art galleries from New York to Los Angeles, Zurich to London, Sao Paulo to Tokyo. Most notable contributions included Diana Thater’s modular video display at David Zwirner Gallery, James Capper’s unfamiliar grinding machines at Hannah Barry, Brandon Lattu’s layered cereal box imagery at Leo Koenig Inc, and many more.

Diana Thater, from a series Day for Night 2013 at David Zwirner. Photo by M-KOS

Works by James Capper at Hannah Barry Gallery, London. Photo by M-KOS

Brandon Lattu, Necker Package, Twelve Year Difference, 2001/2013 (One of Diptych) at Leo Koenig Inc, NY. Photo by M-KOS