Art Basel 50 years of contemporary art
This year, Art Basel will once again display the work of over 4,000 established and emerging artists from a vast range of disciplines, represented by the world’s best galleries. Their work includes both conventional techniques—such as painting, drawing, photography and sculpture—and the latest forms of expression, like video art and digital art.
The fair is located at this intersection between Switzerland, Germany and France for a reason: Basel is a place where ideas are exchanged, cultures blend and discoveries are made. So it’s no coincidence that this charming medieval city on the banks of the Rhine hosts the world’s premier contemporary and modern art fair. Founded in the 1970s, Art Basel was an immediate success—so much so that, almost half a century later, it has expanded to Hong Kong and Miami, where it’s now held every year. In addition, it puts on a whole schedule of events in various other destinations.
The city itself is renowned for its vibrant cultural scene and its 37 museums, including the Fondation Beyeler, the Museum Tinguely and the Vitra Design Museum. The fair ’s arrival transforms the spirit of the entire region, filling the week with exhibitions, parties and events that attract around 100,000 people, including collectors, curators, critics and art lovers (plus plenty of celebrities hunting for the perfect pieces to hang on the walls of their mansions).
FOR FOUR DAYS, FROM 13 TO 16 JUNE, THE SWISS CITY OF BASEL WILL HOST THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR IN THE WORLD: ART BASEL.
During this period, all of Basel pulsates with art, from the more central neighbourhoods where you’ll find the artists’ work and installations, to the buildings where the fair actually takes place. These are interesting examples of contemporary architecture in themselves; one was built by Swiss architect Theo Hotz in 1999 (and subsequently expanded by the studio Herzog & de Meuron), and the other was constructed by Hans Hofmann in the 1950s. The exhibitions inside, which feature work by artists from the 20th and 21st centuries, are a definite highlight of Art Basel—but not the only one. With 27,000 square metres of space to fill, there’s room for so much more. The Feature sector exhibits the work of other historic creators—presented both individually and collectively, and breaking all manner of temporal, spatial and cultural barriers—while the Statements sector is dedicated to young creators and their projects. Two of these budding artists will be awarded the Baloise Art Prize, whereby the Baloise Art Group will acquire their pieces and donate them to various European artistic institutions. A programme of cinema showings, talks, symposiums and panel discussions will run in tandem, serving as a space for debate between leading figures of the art world (including museum directors, curators, critics and artists) on topics like collecting and exhibitions. The fair will also feature the sector ’s latest trade publications, and even the smallest ones will have their own space, allowing them to take their first steps in the art world.