Art Basel 2022: The art of the new normal

The key takeaways, where to park your behind and the best spots to explore outside the fair

Karin Bürki

Text & Bilder: Karin Bürki

Hello from Art Basel. There’s a ton going on. Art, a major heatwave, throngs of art lovers, parties and more art. Navigating through the aisles of the world’s leading art supermarket and its satellites is overwhelming, even for the seasoned fairgoer. But that’s the point and part of the fun for the hunter-collector. Do your spin, discover works that will make you stop in your tracks, make your heart miss a beat and guarantee to blow your mind for a long time. If you’ve come here not for the art but for architecture, design, great outdoor locations and possible house hunting opportunities, do read on.

Art Basel: embracing the new normal

Preview action, “The Wrong Place”, Peter Halley, 2022, seen at Galleria Massimo Minini © Karin Bürki/Heartbrut

Preview Action, “The Wrong Place”, Peter Halley, 2022, seen at Galleria Massimo Minini © Karin Bürki/Heartbrut

When art fair starved A-list collectors hit 289 galleries for the first time since 2019, the outcome is pretty predictable: some galleries sold out within the first view hours of First Choice on Tuesday. But while business is going brisk, the art world is recalibrating to a new normal, marked by post-pandemic transport issues, the absence of the Chinese and the war on Ukraine. New pragmatism and a noticeable shift towards more diversity and inclusivity is the mood du jour: Art Unlimited, famed for its large-scale sculptures and installations, focuses on two-dimensional works (cheaper to ship, more eco-friendly) from unknown art talent from emerging markets. The mega galleries decided to smash intergenerational boundaries, bringing together established and young artists (attracts a wider buyer demographic). Political messages centre on black awareness and on-trend gender activism. In art business speak, blue chips are making way for red-chip artists.

While the war on Ukraine remains largely absent at Art, it is hard to overlook at Liste, the satellite fair for emerging talents. In a gesture of solidarity, none of the 82 participating galleries show works by Russian artists. Kyiv-based galleries The Naked Room and Voloshyn Gallery had their participation fees waived. The latter features Nikita Kadan’s “The Building and the Field” series, created during the war. The stark charcoal paintings evoke images of destruction and mass graves left behind by the Russians. At the same time, the motif of “rich Ukrainian soil” plays a central part in the country’s identity and history. The public buildings from the Soviet modernist era reference the paintings of Lviv Jewish/Polish artist Henryk Streng/Marek Włodarski.

On Tuesday night, the anti-putinist performance collective Pussy Riot took to the stage at Kaserne Basel. Organised at short notice, the punk-prayer helped raise funds for the largest children’s hospital in Ukraine.

Nikita Kadan, close-ups from “The Building and the Field” series, 2022, seen at Voloshyn Gallery © Karin Bürki/Heartbrut

Design Miami Basel: where to park your behind

Art Basel is a marathon. This is why everyone who is anything wears trainers (this year, New Balance were first choice). At some stage, the mind and derrière need to rest. That’s when Design Miami Basel comes to the rescue. This year’s theme is “The Golden Age” and the seating options are as curvy and comfy as the ones seen at Salone del Mobile in Milan. Crucially, they are as easy on the eye as they are on the behind. Top of my pick is Naihan Li’s Prickly Pear Cactus Lounge Chair on show at 20C Gallery – a lustworthy asset to every apartment-turned-indoor jungle. Naihan’s contemporary take on the traditional Chinese motif of turning organic forms into household objects was digitally modelled and carved into shape by robots. The prickle effect was done in “rhino skin technique”, a unique Chinese lacquer-making method. At Curio the Korean-Swiss design Studio WKND Lab offer a poetic respite with a tiger-themed rug and stool combo and a table made of discarded hanji paper. Friends of the sleek end of the curve club may feast their eyes and park their behinds at the booths of Friedman Benda and Galerie Negropontes.

Breakfast with Picasso and walks en plein air

If the hustle and bustle of the conference halls become too much, it’s time to explore Art Parcours. This year’s edition features 21 works by internationally renowned and emerging artists spread across Basel’s old town. Locations include gardens, museums, a sci-fi car park, a theatre and a bank. Or you could have breakfast with Picasso at Kunstmuseum Basel – the superb Picasso – El Greco show continues throughout the summer. Basel’s youngest and edgiest art venue is an abandoned 1930’s villa located in the leavy neighbourhood of Bruderholz. Never mind the art, the “The Beverly Holz” (run by Basel Social Club) comes complete with a lush garden and an outdoor swimming-pool and will have you want to move in straight away. Failing that, escape to Vitra Campus in nearby Weil am Rhein and take a stroll in the wildly beautiful Oudolf Garten. While there, take the opportunity to explore the newly opened Umbrella House by Kazuo Shinohara (1961 / 2022) and check out design classics, like the Panton Chairs, in the iconic VitraHaus, designed by Herzog & de Meuron.

HEARTBRUT

Karin Bürki

HEARTBRUT

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