In 2020, art and design fairs around the globe had to rethink their models. Showcases took a remixed approach with a digital presence, and in turn ushered in a new set of collectors.
This cohort are discovering art, design and craft through grids on their screens as well as within the four walls of a gallery. While forced to stay inside, they’ve been contemplating the concept of ‘home’ more, and missing human connection and tactility when contemplating their surroundings. Last year, Collect had a solely digital presence, but for 2022 it has gone hybrid (25-27 February 2022, previews 23-24 February)) in response to this changing ecosystem of audiences .
Human touch and conscious making
Material experimentation and making techniques are constantly evolving, and innovation in these areas is fuelling interest in today’s collectors. Varuna Kollanethu from UK gallery Ruup & Form has a considered curatorial eye for her collections, and having only established in 2019, she understands that the transforming audiences are conscious collectors who are excited by new materials.
‘At Ruup & Form we work with makers actively engaging in conversations around sustainability, in their materials, methods and process,’ she says. Kollanethu is interested in bridging the different industries of art, design and craft with her collections.
These makers are thinking beyond what has existed before them: like Japanese artist Kuniko Maeda, for example, who weaves traditional and digital techniques for making, often using leather and paper. Kollanethu is also connecting audiences by expanding on the maker journey for Ruup & Form’s Collect display, which will delve into the memories of these artists.