Before Art
Frieze Masters, October 11 - 15 2023
An unprecedented exhibition, the first of its kind to focus on the oldest known man-made object - the Stone Age hand axe - shedding light on the origins of human creativity and artistic expression.
Frame
The natural features of these axes appear as part of a composition, almost as if they were framed to emphasise their presence. Framing is an inherent artistic choice, appearing throughout history, from the borders of classical mosaics to the elaborate cartouches of the Baroque.
Giants
Too big for any practical purpose, evolutionary anthropologists have speculated on the use of these enigmatic giant axes. Like the elaborate plumage of creatures in the wild, were they objects of sexual allure? Signifiers of skill and prowess? Giant axes challenge the notion of prestige as something unique to our own species.
Symmetry
Just as artists distort reality to create perspective, crafting Levallois axes defied intuition, demanding instruction from master to apprentice. First, a core was prepared and struck in cross-section to form pre-determined flakes, which were then reworked. Mastery of this process yielded small, thin, gem-like tools.
spotlight
The natural features of these axes appear as part of a composition, almost as if they were framed to emphasise their presence. Framing is an inherent artistic choice, appearing throughout history, from the borders of classical mosaics to the elaborate cartouches of the Baroque.
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