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Art 33 Basel: The center of the international art world.
ArtBasel online: http://www.ArtBasel.com
Art collectors, gallery owners, artists, curators and art lovers from
countries all over the world have already marked the dates of the annual
family meeting of the art world in their calendar: from June 12 to 17,
Art Basel, the International Art Show, will take place in the city of
Basel (Switzerland) for the 33rd time. Art Basel is undisputedly the
worlds largest and most important show for modern and contemporary
art and constitutes the highlight of the art summer of 2002 together
with the Documenta 11, which opens on the preceding weekend. The high
acclaim of Art Basel is based on the high quality and unique variety of
the works exhibited as well as its international audience. Once again,
over 50,000 visitors (2001: 55,000 visitors) and more than 1,000 media
representatives (2001: 1,500 journalists) are expected from all
continents. They come to see the most cosmopolitan and most select
offerings of the international art market and to meet the insiders and
stars of the !
art scene.
A total of 262 leading galleries from Europe, America, Asia and
Australia will exhibit at Art Basel (see enclosed list of participants).
They have been selected according to strict quality criteria from a
record number of approximately 900 applications from every continent. Of
the galleries, 39 come from Switzerland, 61 from Germany, 25 from
France, 20 from Great Britain, 15 from Italy, 9 from Spain, 7 from
Belgium, 6 from Austria, 4 from the Netherlands, 2 each from Sweden and
Luxembourg, 1 each from Portugal, Denmark, Greece and Ireland, 51 from
the USA, 3 from Canada, 7 from Latin America, 8 from Asia and 2 from
Australia. The galleries were admitted by the Art Committee, a jury of
experienced gallery owners, which studies comprehensive preliminary
information and holds consultative meetings lasting several days before
reaching decisions on admissions. An independent appeals commission
reviewed the admission decisions when requested to do so by rejected
applicants.
Once again, the crème de la crème of the international gallery scene
is exhibiting, and 99% of last year's exhibitors reapplied. Some
renowned galleries and various young hopefuls supplement the selection
of galleries that is unparalleled worldwide. The newly admitted
galleries include 303 (New York), SCAI The Bathhouse, Shiraishi
Contemporary Art (Tokyo), Campaña (Cologne) and Contemporary Fine Arts
(Berlin). In the modern art department, the new additions are Joan T.
Washburn (New York), The Mayor Gallery (London), Zabriskie (New York)
and Berinson (Berlin). Eigen + Art (Berlin), Flay (Paris), ArsFutura
(Zurich) and Kicken (Berlin) are exhibiting again after a short
interruption. Counter Editions (London) and Galerie Patrick Cramer
(Geneva) are enriching the «Art Edition» sector. The «Art
Statements» will include one-person shows of 17 artists presented by
the following galleries: Shugoarts (Tokyo), Galería Nina Menocal
(Mexico), Team Gallery (New York), Casey Kaplan (New !
York), Pierogi (Brooklyn), Greene Naftali Gallery (New York), Galerie
Michael Neff (Frankfurt), Galeria Toni Tàpies (Barcelona), Spencer
Brownstone Gallery (New York, Paris), Nicole Klagsbrun (New York),
Artcore Gallery (Toronto), Galeria Elba Benítez (Madrid), The Project
(New York), Low (Los Angeles), griedervonputtkammer GmbH (Berlin),
Galleria Giò Marconi (Milano) and The Modern Institute (Glasgow). (A
press release on «Art Statements» will follow next week). «We
wanted to take the quality another step further, and we succeeded.
Art-lovers can look forward to Art 33 Basel, which promises to be an
unparalleled art event», comments Samuel Keller, the director of Art
Basel.
Last years extension of the infrastructure (new exhibition walls) and
the range of services offered (gourmet restaurant Stucki, kindergarten
«Art Kids» and wellness studio) was well received by exhibitors and
visitors alike and will be available to guests again this year. This
year will also see the introduction of new elements in the lamps to
improve the quality of the lighting. Moreover, Art Basel is the first
art show to introduce an ombudsman for questions regarding quality. This
new service to visitors is supported by a respected art expert and
museum manager, and will enable questions regarding the authenticity and
condition of a work of art to be clarified. The Art Loss Register, the
largest database for lost and stolen works of art, is being presented
for the third time now. By offering these facilities, Art Basel
underlines its commitment to top quality and service.
The main focus of Art Basel is always on art. All artistic means of
expression are represented at Art 33 Basel. The repertoire ranges from
paintings, drawings and editions to sculptures and installations as well
as photography, performance, internet and video art. Museum-quality
masterpieces are being presented as well as new works by more than 1,000
renowned and up-and-coming artists.
The Art Unlimited exhibition hall offers a platform for works of art
that could hitherto only rarely be exhibited at shows because of
limitations in time, space, concept or budget. In Art Unlimited,
visitors will, in particular, be able to see and buy innovative and
outsize works of art in all kinds of media. These are being displayed
together in the form of an exhibition rather than in individual gallery
booths. (A press release on «Art Unlimited» will follow in March). A
separate catalogue for Art Unlimited is being published in a limited
edition to coincide with the opening of Art 33 Basel. Art Unlimited and
Art 33 Basel are generously supported by UBS Finacial Services Group,
which has been a committed sponsoring partner of Art Basel since
1994.
Basel is the art worlds most important annual market and offers
visitors the largest «temporary museum» in the world. Here art
experts and enthusiasts can discover much sought-after works of art and
new talent, compare prices and spot new trends. For the artists
themselves, it is a recognized platform of worldwide appeal. The
intimate atmosphere in the beautiful city of Basel is a wonderful
setting while special exhibitions and events in the museums provide
further attractions and opportunities for meeting friends. The place to
be at night is the Art Club with its bar, lounge and disco in the
Kunsthalle. The Carharrt fashion label is flying in DJ talents from all
over Europe. On the night of June 15, 2002 a free cultural celebration,
the ArtZappening, is being organized for visitors from near and
far.
Art 33 Basel has the backing of an attractive catalogue. Every year,
this publication offers the largest overview of what is on offer on the
international art market and provides comprehensive information on the
most important annual event in the art world. The catalogue will be
lavishly illustrated and contain pictures of about 500 works of art from
the classical moderns to the latest in contemporary art. The catalogue
appears in early May and can be ordered from Hatje Cantz Verlag,
Senefelderstr. 12, D-73760 Ostfildern-Ruit, telephone +49 711 44 05204,
fax +49 711 44 05220, sales@hatjecantz.de
Art 33 Basel is open daily from June 12 to 17, 2002, from 11 a.m. to 7
p.m. (last day until 6 p.m.). The Vernissage for invited guests takes
place on the evening of June 11. Day tickets cost CHF 30.- (permanent
pass CHF 55.-), schoolchildren, students and pensioners pay CHF 15.-,
and an evening ticket can be purchased from 5 p.m. for CHF 8.-. A
catalogue is being published on the occasion of Art 33 Basel, which can
be purchased for CHF 55.- during the art show.
Current information on Art 33 Basel can be called up on the internet at
http://www.ArtBasel.com
Art Basel Miami Beach, the new sister event of Art Basel in the USA,
takes place for the first time from December 5 to 8, 2002.
Media information on Art Basel is available from:
Art Basel, Communications, Peter Vetsch, Virginia Bally or Sonja
Dörig, P.O. Box, CH-4021 Basel, Tel. +41 58 206 20 20, Fax +41 58 206
31 30, info@ArtBasel.com, http://www.ArtBasel.com
For the USA:
FITZ & CO, Sara Fitzmaurice, 526 West 26 Street #916, New York, NY
10001, Tel. 212 627 1531, Fax 212 627 06 54,
usoffice@ArtBasel.com
Media information in the Internet:
Media information, photos and logo can be downloaded directly from http://www.ArtBasel.com. Media
representatives can also use this site to add their names to the media
mailing list in order to receive Art Basel information and invitations
automatically in future.
For more information go to: http://www.ArtBasel.com
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