This year VOLTA has taken up residence at Pier 90, a lovely spot on the Hudson right next to The Armory Show, which sprawls across Piers 92 and 94. A more manageable size than many of the other fairs, VOLTA is selective, and galleries that have been invited to participate present curated exhibitions of single artists. This year plenty of good paintings are on view, though some of the figurative work seems out of synch with the most compelling contemporary work in that vein. Although well painted, many of the pictures come off as too earnest and overwrought, perhaps reflecting the difficulty of finding a new subject amenable to traditional painting techniques.
The most impressive work in the show considers the relationship between physical and digital space. Artists continue to be fascinated by the distinction between what's real, what's on our screens, and how we make sense of the two worlds in our heads. Here are some snaps from the press preview yesterday.
