The theme of this years’ series of fairs is ‘The Original’. This is part of an attempt to get back to the event’s roots as a fun part of London’s increasingly commercial art scene. The one-day event is an opportunity for visitors to acquire limited-edition artworks for a fraction of their usual prices from the boots of new and vintage Vauxhall cars.
The Workshop is near the former Vauxhall Ironworks Company where the original tiller-steered automobiles were made in 1903. Karen Ashton, founder of the Art Car Boot, says: “As well as bringing an original line-up to our new location, we’ll also be drawing on all the talents our exciting new locale has to offer.”
Around the fair
In addition to the contemporary offerings, Mark Hill’s Vauxhall vintage market will be at the event as well as a selection of vintage and antiques from Bath VA, Retrouvius and The Brocant Boys.
Among the artists represented at the fair are Marcus Harvey, Polly Morgan, Gavin Turk and Roberta Smith. Sir Peter Blake, Bruce McLean and Colin Self will be among those selling their original works in person.
One work on offer is Harland Miller’s giclée print Hate’s Outta Date, which is being offered by raffle. Each of the 50 raffle tickets cost £300 and proceeds go to the Hepatitis C Trust. The raffle winner receives the £4000 print at the cost of the ticket and all entrants receive a postcard-sized edition of the same work. Miller’s one-man exhibition exhibition at White Cube opens the same week as the fair.
Another piece on offer is a Vauxhall Astra Sports Tourer, which has been wrapped with a colourful cartographic design, a commissioned work by the Icelandic artist Kristjana Williams,.
Vauxhall Motors’ Denis Chick adds: “The Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair is a staple event in the calendar for us. This event is for everyone, regardless of individual art expertise and we’ll be dusting off some of our own ‘Originals’ from Vauxhall’s heritage collection.”
