A brief review of Manchester Art Fair, painted in broad strokes.

Well, to be fair, a review of Manchester Art Fair on Saturday 22^nd November, specifically between the times of 4:17 – 5:23 pm.

The site, Manchester Central with its arching void of a ceiling and industrial trappings, is busy. While the white walls of the stands hardly fill a fifth of the vertical space, it feels crowded. Narrow alleyways between wittering gallerists and disinterested punters. Or interested punters. Conversations with any sort of spark seem to be between people who already know each other.

Perhaps I reflect my self-image as a tourist. Indeed, in the spaces where I feel more familiar, I engage more. Sites within my wheelhouse – Castlefield Gallery, Venture arts, Manchester School of Art – seem to be better constructed, more laidback and showcasing a higher calibre of art. Familiarity, here, the underlying drive.

As a rule of thumb, any gallery that contains the words ‘fine art’ in their name is to be avoided. I skirt round a number of stalls hawking insipid, vibrant reproductions of celebrities faces. The worst offender of the day award must go to WOWOW gallery. On their walls are 3D holographic illusions of famous paintings. They are garish and gauche. It seems a commercial mockery of the artists I have met who are striving to unearth something new in their work.

But to spotlight the dreck would be a disservice to the many artists and artworks contributing time, energy and passion to these walls.

A sort of sludgy figurative style seems to be in the zeitgeist. Countless unpopulated landscapes – of seas, beaches, windswept heaths – are conjured in smudged forms, impressions and suggestions. They have controlled palettes. Each stall feels cohesive, yet I suspect I have walked past the same set of paintings many times. That is not to say that they are bad, only a frequent sight.

There is a collectors’ lounge. A thin fence separates those sipping exorbitant prosecco from the rest of us. They are in full sight of us. We are in full sight of them. The dividers are decorated with expressive baked clay heads, fragments from Sagnick Bhomick’s work, previously exhibited at BLOOM, the MFA grad show. Just outside of this veneer of sophistication is a regular café. Round metal tables and chairs designed to stack one on top of the other.

I bump into a couple acquaintances. Likely place for them to be I suppose. The art world is tough, but we have all managed, in our own ways, to find some work in it. Complaints are shared, and aspirations are avoided. Let us muddle through first.

Over a third of the floorspace seems to have been populated by individual artists. They stand, amidst their works, waiting for a passerby to take an interest, take business card. A sale every now and then.

I stop and talk to an artist. Tori Tipton. Her work in rusts and patinas is quite remarkable. Both attention grabbing and holding a lot of visual depth. We talk, for a moment, about her practice. I complement her work and move on.

The artists either side of her, I do not speak to. It must be crushing. A long weekend, watching those around you attract the fleeting attention of a horde of disinterested potential buyers. I sincerely hope that everyone exhibiting has been spoken to, that no one has been left on the wayside.

I find that the works I am drawn to seem to be predominantly abstract. Another zeitgeist, this time large blocks of complementary colours and gently curving lines. I am especially impressed by the works of Kirsty Tanner, and joyed to learn that she is local, operating out of Islington Mill. I hope to see her works again soon. The use of untouched canvas to create new and exciting framings is visually brilliant.

I stroll, tie my laces, mill, meander. I talk for a while to Jeannine Close with her abstract pastel works, to Karin Friedeli with her memories of meditative landscapes. I stroll and stroll and decide I have strolled enough so leave.

Scattered notes, too many photos, not enough attributions.

Next stop, Paradise Works. They have an open studios. Time to talk to some more artists.