As noted previously, I had the privilege of attending Art Basel 39 which wrapped up yesterday and I can honestly say I was overwhelmed. While I've spent a considerable amount of time at New York's MoMA and London's Tate Modern (most of it spent daydreaming of how my favorite pieces would look in my humble abode), I don't think the average museum experience prepares you for the sheer magnitude of an event like Art Basel. The fair is dedicated to contemporary art in all its forms - paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, video and editioned works. This year's edition, the thirty-ninth to be precise, included nearly 300 galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa and featured more than 2,000 artists ranging from the masters to the relatively unknown but promising young talents. While I understand that some reviewers were critical of the quality of the art on display, most notably the New York Times, I can't say I noticed. Since I'm neither a museum curator, a Russian oligarch or the ruler of a small oil-rich nation, I personally saw enough stunning works to more than satisfy my yearning.
Do you see a resemblance?
As a guest of Cartier, I was treated to a guided tour of the fair that helped me understand some of the more significant pieces that were on display and the upcoming trends to watch for in the contemporary art market. Among the most notable pieces I had the privilege of taking in during my visit are the pieces featured below:
1. A complex sculpture by El Anatsui entitled "Strips of Earth's Skin (2008)" made from recycled household materials including packaging. The artist is from Cote d'Ivoire, Africa and is represented by Jack Shainman Gallery, New York City, U.S.A.
2. An 18.5 ft, aluminum and platinum-clad sculpture entitled “Oval Buddha” by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami (possibly a self-portrait). The work reportedly sold for $8 million to an unidentified buyer.
3. An installation piece by Brazilian artist Jesus Rafael Soto entitled "Penetrable BBL Bleu (1999-2007)". This piece is actually interactive in that you're meant to walk through the thin strips of blue plastic cord suspended from a metal frame. It's intended as an exercise in measuring space and color perception. The artist is represented by Galerie Denise Rene - Rive Gauche, Paris, France.
4. As mentioned in a previous post, Cartier chose Art Basel for the launch of their 2008 "Love" collection. The campaign entitled "How Far Would You Go For Love?" includes commissioned works from no less than seven contemporary artists working with an array of visual media including short films, photography, video and drawings. They also commissioned one song from each of twelve singer-songwriters in a variety of languages and genres also available for download from the Cartier "Love" site along with brief interviews with the artists. The 2008 "Love" collection also involves a special edition "Love Charity" bracelet, a set of 18 carat white and pink gold rings intertwined on a silk cord for which Cartier is donating a percentage of sales to various children's charities. For more information, please visit Cartier's newly launched "Love" Site.
All photos (except Takashi Murakami) property of The Luxe Chronicles. Photo of Takashi Murakami by Sherley Rabbani and Josephine Solimene, courtesy of Style.com.
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