Art Basel 2016, Stand R7. Installation views. Photography: Sandra Amport
Art Basel is back in its spiritual and original home of Basel for its 46th edition. Despite the Swiss leg of the event being much more somber and clinical than its cosmopolitan counterparts there’s still plenty to get excited about. Not least because it’s the most prestigious art fair in the world with more than 200 renowned galleries taking part. So prestigious you have to say it twice. But it’s not all about the money and repetitio: here’s five reasons to book a flight now and fly over to the city of art (market).
Yayoi Kusama at Art Basel. Photo by Sandra Amport
Star-studded Female booth (almost) at Victoria Miro (Stand R7)
The London gallery didn’t spare any of their major female artists and descended to Basel loaded with their new works. These include some: Njideka Akunyili Crosby’s complex paintings that coalesce elements from art historical, political and her personal references; and Yayoi Kusama’s new bronze pumpkin sculpture. Other featured artists include Grayson Perry, Celia Paul, Chris Ofili, Kara Walker and Alice Neel.
24 Stops: Rehberger-Weg
Tobias Rehberger‘s very own art trail
The German artist whom we’ve featured in Sleek 48 is offering art goers the 24 Stops: Rehberger-Weg. This art trail named after the artist, links Fondation Beyeler and the Vitra campus and features a series of curious and colourful “way-markers” such as cuckoo clocks and beehives, of course with a little touch of Rehberger. And if you don’t manage to visit this time, no worries as the rail will remain for the next 10 years.
Li Ming at Antenna Space
LISTE – the fresh talent showcase
Liste is the more alternative sister of Art Basel. Featuring galleries from all over the world, it brings young and mid-career artists to town, working almost as display of the future art market heavy weights. Some of the galleries include London-based Arcadia Missa and Limoncello, and Shanghai-based Antenna Space.
Andrew Dadson at Art Basel Parcours
“Parcours” – site-specific sculptures and interventions across the city
This fun art project takes place on and around Münsterplatz, bringing internationally renowned and emerging artists to engage with the city’s most historical neighborhood. Curated by Samuel Leuenberger, founder of the non-profit exhibition space SALTS in Birsfelden, Switzerland, this year you can expect a performance by South African artist Tracey Rose every hour between 1pm and 9pm, at Zivilstandsamt, Rittergasse.
Joseph Kosuth
“Unlimited” – the section dedicated to artworks too large for a booth
Joseph Kosuth is presenting at “Unlimited”, in cooperation with by Sean Kelly and Sprüth Magers, where the artist recreates his debut gallery show in LA in 1968 at the age of 23. His colossal and commemorative show features 10 dictionary definitions of the word “nothing” – what a statement.
Art Basel takes place in Basel, Switzerland, from 16 June until 19 June 2016