All Images Courtesy of Art Basel (www.artbasel.com)
Upcoming Art Basel shows:
Miami Beach, December 5 – 8, 2013
Hong Kong, May 15 – 18, 2014
Basel, June 19 – 22, 2014
‘Art Basel is undoubtedly the most eminent of all art fairs. But it still surprises – alongside its perfect mix of international participants and quality it is able to continue to improve every year, not only in terms of interest and sales but also in efficiency and attendance. 2013 was another highlight – beyond our expectation!’ – Thaddaeus Ropac, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac, Paris, Salzburg
General outside view from Art Basel 2013 held in early June. (Image courtesy of Art Basel)
The 44th edition of Art Basel closed on Sunday, June 16, 2013, with galleries reporting exceptionally strong sales across all levels, as Basel once again became the central meeting place for the international art world. Many visitors to the show commented on the exceptional quality of the work being exhibited, which was undoubtedly reflected in the strength of the sales made by galleries across all sectors of the show throughout the week. Many exhibitors reported stronger sales on the opening preview day of the show than ever before.
Cherry and Martin, Robert Heinecken, Surrealism on TV, 1986, Courtesy the artist and the gallery
Art Basel, whose lead partner is UBS, attracted a record of 70,000 visitors, generating an attendance of 86,000 over the six show days. Representatives and groups from over 70 museums around the world attended the show, alongside major private collectors from North and South America, Europe, and Asia. A significant number of artists attended this year’s edition, including: Kader Attia, Tom Burr, Thomas Demand, Meschac Gaba, Theaster Gates, Isa Genzken, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige, Noriyuki Haraguchi, Roni Horn, Christian Jankowski, Idris Khan, Jorge Macchi, Steve McQueen, Matt Mullican, Sean Scully, Jim Shaw, John Stezaker, Eduardo Terrazas, Mickalene Thomas, Tunga and Danh Vo.
Art Basel 2013 | Unlimited | David Altmejd | Hufkens, Modern Art, Rosen
Art Basel presented 304 galleries from around the world exhibiting the work of over 4,000 artists, with many choosing to present thematic and solo-artist exhibitions. Galleries from across the globe debuted at the Basel show this year, coming from Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Republic Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, USA.
This year, many elements of the show were sited within the new Hall 1 designed by renowned Basel architects Herzog & de Meuron that has redefined Messeplatz and got raving reviews from many visitors. The new building housed the Unlimited, Statements and Magazine sectors, along with the auditorium used for the Conversations and Salon panels.
Unlimited
Art Basel 2013 | Unlimited | Aaron Curry | Rech
Art Basel 2013 | Unlimited | Antony Gormley | Continua
Providing exhibiting galleries with an opportunity to present works which transcend the normal art fair stand, Unlimited, curated by Gianni Jetzer, Director of the Swiss Institute in New York, saw 79 ambitious works presented in an extended exhibition space within Hall 1. Highlights included works by established names such as Ai Weiwei, Martin Creed, Thomas Demand, Theaster Gates, Antony Gormley, Susan Hiller, Walid Raad and Thomas Schütte, alongside pieces from emerging artists including Esther Kläs, Emil Michael Klein, Oscar Murillo and Amalia Pica. www.artbasel.com/basel/unlimited
Art Basel 2013 | Unlimited | Rob Pruitt | Brown
Shakuntala Kulkarni (Chemould), Unlimited (Courtesy of Art Basel)
Art Basel 2013 | Unlimited | Simryn Gill | Williams
‘There has been very, very strong international attendance at this year’s show, with a great concentration of Europe’s most important collectors. The rigorous selection continues to explain the success of the fair. Collectors come to Basel with the intention of buying and we had a very successful week indeed, placing over 60 works, several in the seven-figure range, in important private and museum collections.” – Marc Payot, Hauser & Wirth, Zurich, London, New York
Art Basel 2013 | Unlimited | Meschac Gaba | Stevenson
Statements
Art Basel 2013 | Statements | Daniel Lefcourt | Campoli Presti
The solo artist presentations in Statements again offered visitors and collectors a prime opportunity to discover the work of emerging artists from 24 galleries, 13 of which were exhibiting at Art Basel for the first time. The Baloise Art Prize was this year awarded to Jenni Tischer (Krobath) from Germany and Kemang Wa Lehulere from South Africa (Stevenson). Each artist received CHF 30,000, while works by both were acquired by Baloise and donated to the Hamburger Kunsthalle and the MUMOK, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Vienna. www.artbasel.com/basel/statements
Art Basel 2013 | Statements | Jenni Tischherr | Krobath
‘This year was calm, focused, and serious. The Venice Biennale had provided the art world with brain-food and the considered tone continued at Art Basel. And without a doubt the museums in Basel collectively provide the very best context for the world’s best fair.’ – Sadie Coles, Sadie Coles, London
Art Basel 2013 | Statements | Kostas Sahpazis | Melas Papadopoulos
Feature
Art Basel 2013 | Feature | Freymond-Guth
Art Basel 2013 | Feature | Herald St
Galleries exhibiting in the Feature sector presented precise curatorial projects, showing both historical and contemporary work. This year’s edition saw 24 galleries from 16 countries within the sector, the highest number of galleries since Feature was introduced in 2010. Highlights included a presentation of Sonia Gomes works spanning two decades (Mendes Wood), a performance based work by Pablo Bronstein (Herald Street) and a presentation of historical works by the Japanese artist Tsuroko Yamazaki (Take Ninagawa). www.artbasel.com/basel/feature
Art Basel 2013 | Feature | Plan B
Art Basel 2013 | Feature | Take Ninagawa
‘It’s wonderful to come to Art Basel and know that you will always be in the company of the world’s greatest art galleries. It remains the gold standard of the international art circuit.’ – Adam Sheffer, Cheim & Read, New York
Parcours
Art Basel 2013 | Parcours | Michael Craig-Martin | Hammer (blue)
Art Basel 2013 | Parcours | Lisa Oppenheim | Smoke
For its fourth year, the 2013 edition of Parcours moved into the Klingental neighborhood of Basel, one of the city’s most culturally diverse and creatively active quarters. Curated for the first time by Florence Derieux, Director of FRAC Champagne-Ardenne, Parcours featured high-caliber works by renowned international artists including Marina Abramovic, Michael Craig-Martin, Jill Magid and Sterling Ruby. A highlight of the week was Parcours Night on Wednesday, June 12, when the different project venues opened late, accompanied by a night of special performances, which included L.A Dance Project‘s presentation of Benjamin illepied’s ‘ Moving Parts’ (2012) and ‘Winterbranch’ (1964) by Merce Cunningham, both presented by Art Basel in collaboration with Kaserne Basel; Marc Bauer’s ‘The Architect’ (2013); and ‘Avuncular Quest’ (2013) by Michael Smith. www.artbasel.com/basel/parcours
Art Basel 2013 | Parcours | Martin Walde | Choice
Art Basel 2013 | Parcours | Sterling Ruby | Stove
Art Basel 2013 | Parcours Night | Marina Abramović | The Airport | Klingentalplat
This year we had more interest than ever before from a lot of international collectors. We sold works by artists including Albert Ohlen and Bridget Riley both from the stand and from our Bridget Riley exhibition in Berlin. Art Basel is still the best platform to sell the best pieces to the best audience.’ – Samia Saouma, Galerie Max Hetzler, Berlin
Conversations
Art Basel’s Conversations series brought together prominent voices from the international art world, including Thomas Schütte, Massimiliano Gioni, Agustín Pérez Rubio, Suzanne Cotter, Marina Fokidis, Dan Graham, Massimo Minini, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Steven Sacks, Carl Thoma, Alice Gray Stites, Gianfranco Baruchello, Fritz Haeg, Agnes Varda, Adrian Villar Riojas and Zheng Guogu. Conversations were presented in partnership with Absolut Art Bureau. Videos of Conversations are now available to view online at www.artbasel.com/basel/conversations and will also be available on www.absolutartbureau.com.
‘Art Basel stands out from other fairs. This year we really felt that there was a return to serious collecting, rather than buying just for investment purposes. In the first two days we found we were having real conversations with serious and considered collectors who – thanks to the two preview days – were under less pressure to make quick decisions, and this is something we appreciate.’ – Mathias Rastorfer, Galerie Gmurzynska, Zurich
Salon
Art Basel 2013 | Salon | Artist Talk | Unlimited | left to right: Oscar Tuazon, Latifa Echakhch, Matt Connors, Gianni Jetzer
Art Basel 2013 Salon Artist Talk/Unlimited with Gianni Jetzer, Latifa Echakhch and Matt Connors (Courtesy of Art Basel)
The daily program of artist conversations and discussion forums took place each afternoon with a number of timely themes covered, including ‘The Future of Biennials in Local and Global ontext’, ‘The Place of Mid-level Galleries in the Age of the ‘Mega-gallery’ and ‘The Fundamental Questions of Curating’. Videos of Salon will be available on www.artbasel.com shortly
Art Basel 2013 | Salon | Art Market Talk | The Place of Mid-level Galleries in the Age of the Mega-gallery | left to right: Edward Winkleman, Elizabeth Dee, Josh Baer
Salons 2013 – Art Market Talk – The Place of Mid-level Galleries in the Age of the Mega-gallery with (left to right) Edward Winkleman, Elizabeth Dee, Josh Baer (Courtesy of Art Basel)
‘Once again, this fair’s excellence attracts a diverse range of collectors, curators, consultants, and dealers from around the world. We were able to spend significant time with new contacts from South America and Asia, as well as reconnect with so many of our best collectors from Europe.’ – Greg Lulay, David Zwirner, New York, London
Film
Screened at Stadtkino Basel, the Art Basel Film program featured over 30 films by and about artists. Highlights included four short films by Carsten Nicolai; ‘Paris: Capital of the XXIst Century’, the last film ever made by Malcom McLaren; as well as films by artists Kader Attia, Isa Genzken, Christian Jankowski, William E. Jones, Hassan Khan, Ho Tzu Nyen and Michael Snow. Marc Glöde curated Film for the sixth consecutive year, while This Brunner selected the program’s feature film: ‘Cutie and the Boxer’ by Zachary Heinzerling. www.artbasel.com/basel/film
‘The week at Art Basel has been an enormous success for our artist Sonia Gomes – apart from strong sales to good collections, we have had extensive contact with many curators.’ – Pedro Mendes, Mendes Wood, Sao Paulo
Favela Café
Art Basel 2013 | Tadashi Kawamata | Favela Café, 2013
Art Basel commissioned the artist Tadashi Kawamata to create an art installation on Messeplatz. ‘Favela Café’, which was in situ for the duration of the show, and referenced an earlier work by the artist entitled ‘People’s Garden‘, 1992, which was exhibited at Documenta IX. The work consisted of 18 huts grouped on and around the fountain area on Messeplatz, connected by walkways, providing seating areas as well as fully operating cafés and bars for the show’s visitors and the public. Now that the show has closed, Art Basel will provide the ‘Landestelle’ project in Basel with the physical elements of the structure, for it to be used for the next five years in a different configuration as a bar and restaurant with community garden, located within the harbor area of Basel. The work was produced in collaboration with Basel architect Christophe Scheidegger.
Art Basel 2013 | Tadashi Kawamata | Favela Café, 2013
Art Basel 2013 | Tadashi Kawamata | Favela Café, 2013
Museums in Basel
The museum exhibitions in and around Basel were once again of a high standard, including: ‘Max Ernst’ (May 26 – September 8) and ‘Maurizio Cattelan: Kaputt’ (June 8 – October 6) at Fondation Beyeler; ‘The Picassos Are Here!’ at Kunstmuseum Basel (March 17 – July 21); ‘Steve McQueen’ (March 16 – September 1) at the recently reopened Schaulager; ‘Some End of Things’ at the Museum für Gegenwartskunst (May 25 – September 5); ‘Zilvinas Kempinas. Slow Motion’ at Museum Tinguely (June 5 – September 22); and ‘Pavilionesque’, an exhibition of work by Paulina Olowska at Kunsthalle Basel (June 13 – September 1). For a full complete list of museum exhibitions visit www.museenbasel.ch
Art Basel 2013 | Galleries | 303 Gallery
Art Basel 2013 | Galleries | Acquavella
Art Basel 2013 | Galleries | Ammann
‘We are thrilled to be the first Philippine gallery participating in Art Basel. It has been an exciting experience for us to meet collectors, curators and foundations with a strong interest in new art from Asia.’ – Isa Lorenzo, Silverlens, Philippines
Design Miami/Basel
Design Miami/Basel, the global forum for collecting, exhibiting, discussing and creating design was this year held within the new exhibition hall designed by Herzog & de Meuron on Messeplatz. For more details, please visit www.designmiami.com
Art Basel 2013 | Galleries | Gavin Brown’s enterprise
Art Basel 2013 | Galleries | Gavin Brown’s enterprise
‘Art Basel makes the rest of the year worthwhile. We had lots of incredible conversations at the fair. This is the fourth time we participate at Art Basel and every time it helps us to gain more attentions.’ – Shireen Gandhy, Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai
Smartphone App
Shortly before the show, visitors could download the Art Basel Smartphone App. Using an iPad, iPhone, Blackberry or other smartphone, Art Basel’s galleries, artists and exhibition sectors can still be accessed after the show has closed. The app’s interactive 3 -map allows for virtual navigation through the halls, access to information and images of artworks that galleries brought to the show, organizing them as favourites, and forwarding them to friends and colleagues.
The catalog for the 2013 edition of Art Basel is published by Hatje Cantz Publishers. To order the catalog, please visit www.hatjecantz.de.
For the past 20 years, UBS has been the show’s Lead Partner. In 1999, the partnership was extended to Unlimited and, in 2001, to Art Basel in (Art Basel) Miami Beach. UBS has now extended its partnership to a global level, also becoming the Lead Partner for Art Basel’s show in (Art Basel) Hong Kong. UBS has a rich history of actively supporting cultural and artistic endeavors across the world, with a focus on promotion, collection and educational activities in the world of contemporary art.
Associate Partners Davidoff, the prestigious Swiss cigar brand; Audemars Piguet, the independent high-end watch manufacturer; and the Absolute Art Bureau, which is responsible for the Absolut Company‘s international art initiatives, support Art Basel across its three shows. Absolut is also a Presenting Partner for Art Basel’s Conversations series. Associate Partner Netjets, the world leader in private aviation, continues its support of the Basel show. Art Basel’s global Media Partner is The Financial Times, and the VIP car service at the show was by BMW. Long-standing partner AXA ART, the international art insurance specialist, provides VIP guided tours at all shows. For further information on Art Basel’s partners, please visit www.artbasel.com.
Filed under: Arts & Culture Tagged: Absolut Company, Adrian Villar Riojas, Agnes Varda, Agustín Pérez Rubio, Ai Weiwei, Alice Gray Stites, Amalia Pica, Antony Gormley, Art Basel, Art Basel Hong Kong, ART BASEL MIAMI BEACH, Art Basel Smartphone App, Audemars Piguet, AXA ART, Baloise Art Prize, BMW, Carl Thoma, Carsten Nicolai, Christian Jankowski, Christophe Scheidegger, Dan Graham, DAVIDOFF, Design Miami/Basel, Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, Eduardo Terrazas, Emil Michael Klein, Esther Kläs, Favela Café, Fondation Beyeler, Fritz Haeg, Gianfranco Baruchello, Gianni Jetzer, Hamburger Kunsthalle, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Hassan Khan, Herzog & de Meuron, Ho Tzu Nyen, Idris Khan, Isa Genzken, Jenni Tischer, Jim Shaw, Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige, John Stezaker, Jorge Macchi, Kader Attia, Kemang Wa Lehulere, Kunsthalle Basel, Kunstmuseum Basel, Malcom McLaren, Marc Glöde, Marina Fokidis, Martin Creed, Massimiliano Gioni, Massimo Minini, Matt Mullican, Meschac Gaba, Michael Snow, Mickalene Thomas, MUMOK, Museum für Gegenwartskunst, Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig, Museum Tinguely, NETJETS, Noriyuki Haraguchi, Oscar Murillo, Pablo Bronstein (Herald Street), Paulina Olowska, Roni Horn, Schaulager, Sean Scully, Steve McQueen, Steven Sacks, Susan Hiller, Suzanne Cotter, Tadashi Kawamata, The Financial Times, Theaster Gates, This Brunner, Thomas Demand, Thomas Schütte, Tom Burr, Tsuroko Yamazaki (Take Ninagawa), Tunga, UBS, Walid Raad, William E. Jones, Zachary Heinzerling, Zheng Guogu