Basel, Switzerland, October 25, 2021
After a Covid-forced hiatus, the most anticipated art show is back. Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland, is taking place in September this year, which is different from the usual time in June. They’re celebrating its 50th-anniversary now, because last year the show was canceled. Art Basel started in 1970. It’s worth mentioning that it was a woman, who came up with the idea of founding the fair, a Swiss gallerist, Trudl Bruckner. Another thing that’s new this year is COVID certification wristbands that everyone is supposed to get (a bit of a headache since my American test did not qualify contrary to their website announcement).
Other than that, it was nice to travel abroad for for the first time since the pandemic, and to be able to see art in person. That’s what I hear a lot from everyone at the show.
I always make an effort to cover women in art. So this year, I’ve picked a few galleries with either female owners, or mainly run by women, or those who represent women-artists. It’s been a pleasant surprise to meet show’s veteran Elena Buchmann of Buchmann Galerie (Lugano, Switzerland), who has participated in Art Basel for the last 40 years!
It’s refreshing to hear millennial voices from Eastern Europe, like Lilian Hiob of Temnikova & Kasela gallery from Tallinn (the Baltic blonde is over 6-ft tall with her legs in an upside-down “V” to level with me, and I’m like a gnome on tiptoes, that’s left behind the scene ). It’s the only Estonian gallery at the show (its co-owner just having had a baby, congrats!)
Some galleries took a leap of faith coming to the show, like a small gallery from East London, The approach. To alleviate financial burden, they’re splitting the booth with another gallery, Kate MacGarry.
By the way, the organizers set up a CHF 1.5 million fund to help those galleries that wouldn’t make any sales, and made a pledge to cover their hotel fees. Of course, I had to stop by the familiar American galleries, such as Paula Cooper and Marian Goodman (New York, USA) and chat with a newest partner at the latter, Rose Lord.
There is a striking live performance “Tears” happening daily on the Messeplatz (the show’s main ground) staged by British artist Monster Chetwynd (b. Alalia Chetwynd) with dancers gliding in large zorbs around the square.
Lastly, Pace Gallery from New York has an installation outside of the Unlimited sector with a strong LGBTQ message.
The general vibe at the show is, Hiob said, “slower and humbler,” and Lord summed it up: “Basel is the best fair,” and “it was great to be here despite the difficult circumstances.” I can’t agree more.
Special thanks to the women at the Press desk, especially to Annina!!!
Until the next show, I am Jane Greaves
Basel, Switzerland
September 25, 2021
🎶 credit: Sergey Cheremisinov “Long Story” from FMA https://freemusicarchive.org, CC BY-NC
Greaves Productions 