In the studio with Ryan Gander

So what are you up to for Frieze?
'I'm creating a portrait of a portrait of a portrait. 50 spectators at the fair will have their photograph taken while in the process of looking at an artwork of their choice. As they are printedand framed the portraits will be hung in the entrance corridor to the fair. So when shown together the images will become a portrait of the 50 artworks - mediated through spectator choice; a portrait of the demographic of spectators at the fair and also a portrait of the fair itself.'

What made you want to do that?
'I like the idea that the work will become a collection, but a collection of the 50 spectators' art experiences rather than a collection of their art.'

You also have a photographic portrait in 'Lisson Presents 6'…
'Yes, it's a photo of [Turner-Prize-winning] artist Mark Leckey. In the past artists would make portraits of each other, partly as a form of validation of their group or school through association. I like the fact that it's a portrait of another artist but you don't know why it's in my show. It's such a straight piece because it's not saying anything, so compared to my other work, it's the equivalent of me making an abstract panting.'

Ryan Gander's work can be seen from Oct 15-18 2009 at the Frieze Art Fair and from Oct 14-Nov 14 at Lisson Presents 6