After Nyne x Moniker: Eleni Duke Talks Curious Duke, Secret Art Prize and More
In the second of our After Nyne x Moniker interviews, our Editor Claire Meadows meets Eleni Duke. Founder of Curious Duke Gallery, Eleni is well-placed in the centre of the art world, and has extensive experience in bringing new initiatives to fruition. This year she brings her most exciting innovation yet to the Moniker Art Fair.
Eleni, tell us a little about the central ethos of Curious Duke Gallery.
I started Curious Duke Gallery because I wanted to create a space that subverted people's expectations of what an art gallery is. Galleries sometimes have the reputation - rightly or wrongly - of being unwelcoming or pretentious places. I wanted to create a space and an environment in which visitors would immediately feel they belonged; somewhere they could be immersed in a friendly atmosphere and be exposed to new and exciting artistic talent.
What, in your eyes, makes Moniker different from any other art fair in London?
Moniker is the only art fair I have participated in where a gallery is able to take creative control and curate a stand, enabling us to take the visitor on an immersive and interactive journey, rather than a purely retail one. Moniker really work with the galleries and artists to create a space in which the visitor is able to see the fun side of the art work - rather than just be given a sales pitch.
You’re introducing a new project at the fair this year - the Secret Art Prize. Tell us about this.
We developed the Secret Art Prize because there are no other fine art prizes that accept urban and street art. The Secret Art Prize is inclusive of street art, and art that has roots in urban culture. Some of the biggest and notable artists in the world are street and urban artists, and we feel it's about time there's an art prize that recognises this.
What makes Moniker an ideal partner for this Prize?
I absolutely love the concept of Moniker Art Fair. Moniker is one of the first art fairs - if not the first art fair - to celebrate urban art as a genre worthy of a gallery setting. Moniker, like the art it promotes, pushed boundaries and created an art fair that went against the grain. This is one of the many reasons I think the Secret Art Prize and Moniker Art Fair share a kindred spirit. We both recognised a new artistic movement that didn't deserve to be labelled 'not as good’ as fine art.
As a gallery owner, what do you look for in an artist?
I always look for artists as driven and as passionate as I am; those who have unique ideas and a signature style. If they're determined and eager to push boundaries - to really explore - it can make for a great relationship to nurture.
What other Curious Duke projects would you like our readers to be aware of?
We have just chosen Gina Soden to be our 2016 Secret Art Prize winner, and we'll be launching next year's edition of the Secret Art Prize in March 2017.
We'll be hosting the Secret Art Prize exhibition in October at the Curious Duke Gallery - come and take a look!
We're creating an immersive sculpture by Artist Sam Peacock that will be displayed in the entrance of Affordable Art Fair Battersea.
And we have solo shows by artists Roy’s People, Louise McNaught and Simone Webb coming up in 2017.
Which artists are currently exciting you?
So many at the moment! From CDG, we're really looking forward to what Andrew Millar and Otto D’Ambra have in store for us. From outside the CDG family, I absolutely adore the work from Chloe Early, Conner Harrington and Matthew Small. Their concepts and styles are pushing boundaries, and I'm thoroughly enjoying following their journeys.
Check out more about Moniker Art Fair at http://monikerartfair.com/
Moniker Art Fair
The Old Truman Brewery 85 Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL
Fair opening hours:
Private view: Thursday: 6th October, 5pm-9pm £14 (£11.20 concession)* *Limited tickets available, must be booked in advance
Friday: 7th October, 12pm–9pm £8 (£6 concession)
Saturday: 8th October, 11am–7pm £8 (£6 concession)
Sunday: 9th October, 11am–6pm £8 (£6 concession)
