FRIEZE LONDON

The prevailing unease often gives rise to a (quasi-)crisis dynamic in the relationship between humanity and nature. Within this emotionally charged context, even environmentalism or post-anthropocentric critique may function as a form of psychological compensation for an underlying sense of crisis. The fundamental logic remains a zero-sum game of mutual destruction between humanity and nature. Therefore, the issue at hand may not be a lack of crisis awareness, but rather the emotional inertia that hinders us from envisioning alternative relationships.

For the 2024 edition of Frieze London, Magician Space will showcase works by Guo Cheng, Shi Guowei, and Timur Si-Qin, each of whom has developed a distinct sensibility in their exploration of nature. Timur Si-Qin’s “New Peace” aims to revive a sense of the sacred within nature in contemporary society. His distinctive plant sculptures integrate modern technology, commercial aesthetics, and religious art, drawing on deeply ingrained cultural aesthetics to refocus attention on nature. Similarly, Shi Guowei’s landscapes emphasize the small and often overlooked aspects of natural existence. These uninhabited scenes devoid of political or cultural interpretation represent pure life. By using translucent watercolors to modify original black-and-white photographs, Shi conveys both the tranquility and the violence inflicted upon life by power. In collaboration with life scientists, Guo Cheng’s recent work explores distinctions between humans and other life forms within the ecological hierarchy. His new pieces continue his ongoing investigation into redefining human-made objects in the Anthropocene era as he opens up technological constructs of modern life for sharing with other living beings.