Artists are playing chess♟️
While I'm playing checkers 🏁
I never learned how to play chess—the plight of an only child. My competitive nature means it’s better for me to avoid strategic board games; I’m bound to fight with my opponent, who more than likely is a friend or lover.
A sign near my house is advertising chess lessons for beginners. Keiran and I are seriously considering signing up. It’s good to try new things, and I don’t know much about chess; my most familiar reference is the infamous game between Marcel Duchamp and Eve Babitz.
I’m a huge Babitz fan—and it feels fitting to quote her at length while the fairs in LA are in full swing. Babitz wrote an essay about the circumstances that led to the famous snap by Julien Wasser. The idea for the photo op came from a Duchamp show at the Green Hotel in 1963. The essay itself is not my favourite, so I’ve included only the pertinent parts for you here:
I got myself some red wine and wandered over to a raised platform where Marcel and Walter were playing chess, and my father came by and watched with a cynical expression. (He told me later, “That Marcel is not very good, I could have beaten him on the fourth move. And your friend Walter can’t play at all.”)
Maybe it was the spectacle of Walter playing chess with Duchamp “for art” that gave Julian the idea. After all, by 1963 it had been about forty years since Marcel had retired to play chess (or so he wanted the world to think). For forty years someone could have come up with the idea of photographing the master of Nude Descending a Staircase playing chess with a naked woman. But nobody in Paris or New York thought it up.
“Hey, Eve,” Julian said, grinning. “Why don’t I take pictures of you nude, playing chess with Marcel Duchamp?”
Heretofore, the only nudes in L.A. were calendar girls—starlets trying to make the rent. Of course, me being the nude sort of made me feel like I was pretending I was way bolder than I really was. But then, anything seemed possible—for art, that night. Especially after all that red wine.
…
I, of course, had youth and beauty (and birth control pills) over him, but he had brains on his side—or at least chess brains—and though I tried my best, moving a knight so at least he knew I had some idea what a knight was, he moved his pawn and the next thing I knew, I was checkmated. “Fool’s mate” they call it when you’re so stupid that the game hasn’t even begun and you’ve lost.
Sometimes, I worry I’ll run out of newsletter ideas. And then I end up writing about chess and know that will never happen. To me, that’s the beauty of art—it’s a lens that allows us to view the world. Even things we might not be familiar with.
♟️More chess and art ♟️
One of the earliest chess sets, abstract and beautiful. On view at the Met! They look so appealing to hold—a true work of art.
Chess Set, 12th century You can buy an $825 chess set inspired by Man Ray at the MoMA store. “This design was inspired by Man Ray's lifelong friendship with avid chess player and fellow artist Marcel Duchamp. In this re-edition of the 1920s Wooden Chess Set, a metal version of which is in MoMA 's collection, Man Ray translates traditional chess pieces in geometric forms.” I’m sorry, but I do not think that’s worth $825. Decide for yourself.
A forum on chess.com about Tracey Emin’s chess board. They’re not a fan of the artist, but it devolves into an interesting history lesson on quilted chess sets.
I hate the feeling of a plastic chess set! They’re too light and feel dingy. The chess set we know (and hate) is called the “Staunton” Chess Set. Here’s how it came to be.
In 2012, Marcel Dzama screened a video and related exhibition all about chess at David Zwirner in New York. There’s a pretty comprehensive overview of the exhibition in the World of Chess Hall of Fame.
It seems like Stephanie Temma Hier went through a bit of a chess phase a couple of years ago. Art Forecast approved!
Additional Art News
Of course, all attention is on LA this week. I love LA—and Felix Art Fair + Frieze LA are two of my favourite fairs. I think I might send a separate letter this week about my picks from both.
If you are in LA, the Consulate General of Canada in Los Angeles hosts 8 Canadian gallerists in a show at Praz-Delavallade. Fun idea. I think there should be more Canadian representation in California.
I’m sure you’ve read this scathing NYT article on Louise Blouin
One of my favourite writers, Evan Nicole Brown, on women artists to watch at Frieze for The Cut.
Thank you
for the shout-out in her recent dispatch! Bronwyn’s newsletters are always chock-full of great art recommendations.- did a round-up of niche IKEA history and merch—with a very generous mention of Art Forecast’s newsletter that asked “Is IKEA the next mega gallery?” TY!!!
Join us next Friday at SNAP—an auction to benefit the Aids Committee of Toronto. This year I sat on the curatorial committee, so feel qualified to tell you what a strong roster of photographers are taking part. Get tix here.
That’s all! Talk soon ♟️♟
Former grade school chess club member…let’s play sometime ♟️
Tatum, next time you’re in London check out the exquisite Lewis chessmen at the British Museum!! Fascinating and beautiful.9