Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair

Kunst Clown, photographer Nick Cunard

If you were expecting a banquet of quirky art delights then this years Vauxhall Art Car Boot Fair at the Old Truman Brewery was a veritable feast. More that 60 artists turned up to sell their work at knock-down prices to 7,500 visitors (1500 more than last year. )

Gavin Turk had a literal view and sold signed junkyard car boot parts.
And talking of bargains, you could get your portrait done for two pounds by Mark Jones nearby.

Vivienne Westwood was flogging her old crap for a fiver.
Well actually, it was spare fabric cuttings left over from her last collection with 'I love crap' badges on them. Very chic. 
Keeping it in the family, her eldest son, Ben Westwood, sold rather erotic photographs of racy ladies from the car next door.

It was a first come first served affair at Peter Blake's stand where he sold 54 prints inspired by a pack of playing cards.
You could pick up an original print for as little Twenty-Five English pounds, I say!
As you would imagine the serious art buyers got there early.

The great thing about the Car Boot Sale was that kids and grown-ups alike got stuck in.
You could make you own T-shirts for a pound; create your own carbon foot print from iron filings and even own your own country.
The kids went especially mad for the Kunst Clown who you were invited to beat him up for a couple of quid and screamed with glee as cream pies were thrown at the poor clown who was sufficiently caked.

Particularly intriguing was The Art of Conversation tent where you could discuss political issues in return for choi and lemon drizzle cake.
Several artists were commissioned to decorate cars this year.
 Ian Monroe's incredible wood and marble veneered Vauxhall hatchback brought a suburban kitchen to Brick Lane.
And Peter Blake wrote samples in black pen from travelogues and traveller's books over his car which had been varnished in White Vinyl.

To top off the experience, burlesque strippers and DJs on the main stage gave a carnival atmosphere to the whole proceedings.
And everyone was delighted that Karma cabs were there just in case you needed somewhere to sit and reflect on the ‘Art and Frivolity’ ( the motto of the fair ) that you’d just indulged in.

 
Gavin Turk’s exhibition, Me as Him, until 8th September at Riflemaker, 79 Beak Street, W1
www.riflemaker.org

Book a Karma Cab at www.karmakars.net

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