Galleries at Art Basel present showcase works
Published: Tuesday, Jun 11th 2024, 14:11
Updated At: Wednesday, Jun 12th 2024, 01:59
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With their flagship works and famous artist names, the galleries at Art Basel seem to want to boost the weakened art market again. On Tuesday, the world's leading art fair opened its doors for the first VIP round.
At 11.00 a.m. sharp, the chime sounded for the Art opening, the international crowd of First Choice VIPs put aside their champagne glasses and streamed into the exhibition halls. There they were welcomed by the galleries, which had unpacked their silverware against the backdrop of the weakened market.
First and foremost, this was the case with half a dozen global gallery groups. Zurich gallery Hauser & Wirth, which has just opened a new branch in Basel in addition to London, New York and Paris, is once again trying its hand with Louise Bourgeois.
Her spider sculptures sold for tens of millions during the last two editions. This year, a marble sculpture of a pupated woman and a series of red works on paper are waiting for buyers. In addition, works by Bruce Nauman, Francis Picabia and Max Beckmann hang beneath a mobile by Alexander Calder.
Secure values of the art market
Not far away, White Cube (London, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul) is showing a large photograph by Jeff Wall, which was recently on display in the Jeff Wall retrospective at the Fondation Beyeler. Right next to it hangs a work that is likely to stimulate the debate as to whether this is really art or not: it is a rolled-up fire hose, simply called "Fire Hose" by the artist Theaster Gates.
At Gagosian (New York, Basel, London, Paris and more), works by Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Donald Judd and Roy Lichtenstein are on display for seven-figure prices. The same goes for Pace (New York, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, etc.). Among other things, a sweeping sculpture by Jean Dubuffet serves as a seating area.
Art from Basel on offer
A total of 285 galleries from 40 countries are taking part in the fair - including the major art trade groups. 22 galleries are taking part for the first time this year. Among them is the Basel-based Galerie Mueller. It is presenting a series of machine works by Jean Tinguely, from an early work from 1954 to a late machine that he created shortly before his death in 1991.
Not far away, New York's Meredith Rosen Gallery is making its first appearance at Art Basel in Basel. In a solo show, it is showing pictures by Basel artist Irène Zurkinden (1909-1987) as a reference to the city. Art from Basel seems to appeal to the New York gallery owner in particular. At the Art Basel edition in Miami at the end of 2023, she had works by Basel artist Rudolf Maeglin (1892-1971) at her stand.
Art Basel continues until Sunday. The exhibition halls will also be open to the general public from Thursday.
©Keystone/SDA
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