Their gossip may be casually littered with talk of financial meltdown, but the world’s super-rich will be out in force in London next week to take part in one of their favourite pastimes that is seemingly impervious to the turbulence of the global economy: the buying of contemporary art.

The annual Frieze art fair in Regent’s Park will once more act as a focus for a week of frenetic activity that could see up to £200m ($334m) worth of art change hands.