Art 36 Basel
The International Art Show
June 15 – 20, 2005
www.ArtBasel.com
Art 36 Basel: Capital of Art and the Art World
Art 36 Basel is being held in Basel (Switzerland) from June 15 to 20, 2005. It is the world’s leading art show and the annual meeting place of the international art world. 275 galleries from all continents will be taking part. They will be showing works by over 2,000 artists of the 20th and 21st century. The outstanding reputation of Art Basel is based on the high quality and unique variety of its works of art and on the international composition of its visitors. Special sectors will showcase print graphics, film and one-person shows by young artists. For the first time, this year will also include a special presentation of artists books. The exhibitors are on a higher level than ever, and participation has been extended by the addition of some interesting young galleries, leading dealers in modern art and specialists in the field of vintage photography. Many famous artists will be attending in person. «Art enthusiasts and visitors have something to look forward to. The 36th edition of Art Basel promises to be a unique art event. Never before have the participating galleries announced so many exciting, top-flight art projects. We are confident that this years Art Basel will offer plenty of surprises and discoveries. It is likely to be the best art show we have ever done», comments Samuel Keller, Director of Art Basel.
Every form of artistic expression will be represented at Art 36 Basel. The repertoire ranges from paintings, drawings and edi-tions through sculptures and installations to performance, Internet and video art. Works of art costing a few thousand dollars by young, yet-to-be discovered artists will be on display as well as museum-quality masterpieces priced at several millions. The «Art Unlimited» hall will show some extraordinary large-scale projects that cannot be seen and purchased at any other art fair in the world. The exhibition square in front of Art Basel becomes a platform for art projects in a public space. Ten projects by internationally known artists will be displayed here during the International Art Show. In creating Public Art Projects, Art Basel offers a multimedia platform to artists seeking an alternative to the White Cube of the exhibition hall. Over 50,000 visitors and approximately 1,700 media rep-resentatives are expected at the 36th Art Basel, and the cultural institutions of the city will be staging accompa-nying events and exhibitions that are well worth a visit.
News
Artists books
For the first time there will be a special presentation of artists books this year. The «Artists books» exhibition features a selection of particularly noteworthy specimens created since the turn of the millennium, chosen to offer insight into the diver-sity and vitality of this interesting and affordable collecting area. Artists books have led a marginal existence at art shows up to now, in some cases because booths were too expensive and not particularly suitable for their presentation. By inviting galleries and specialized publishers from all over the world to show their artists books here, Art Basel hopes to create an ideal platform for presenting and selling this very quiet art form to an interna-tional audience. The exhibition is scheduled to be supplemented by information events and presentations in the presence of the artists. «Artists books» is organized by Geneva curator and publisher Lionel Bovier in collaboration with Basel gallery owner Diego Stampa. Works by over a hundred artists will be on display, such as Maria Lindberg, David Maljkovic, Emmanuelle Antille, Carlos Amorales, Gabriel Orozco, Jennifer Tee, Olaf Nicolai, Raymond Pettibon, Ai Weiwei, Fiona Banner, Günter Brus & Jörg Schlick, Lucy McKenzie, James Welling, Kai Althoff, Wolfgang Tillmans, Carsten Nicolai, Susanne Bürner, Monica Bonvicini, Christian Boltanski, Rita McBride, Sean Landers, Markus Lüpertz, Richard Prince, Navin Rawanchaikul, Richard Tuttle, Bruce Naumann, David Goldblatt and many more.
Professional Day
Professional Day, which was introduced with success last year, will be newly held on Friday, June 17, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Numerous galleries will be organizing special exhibitions and programs for it. Professional Day is aimed at museum profes-sionals, art dealers, artists and collectors.
Art Basel Conversations
Leading curators, artists, gallery owners, private collectors and architects such as Maria de Coral, Gottried Honegger, Michelangelo Pistoletto, Richard Flood, Vito Acconci, John Armleder, Andrea Fraser, James Rondeau, Yung Ho Chang, Hou Hanrou, Huang Yong Ping, Dr. Uli Sigg, Guan Yi, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Nicolas Bourriaud, Charles Esche, Massimiliano Gioni, will be presenting and discussing issues which will include the art of collecting, those who collect: artists and art professionals, architecture for ar,; and the future of the museum: Profile China, and new practices in curating.
Special sectors
«Art Unlimited»
A total of 72 exciting projects as can be seen and purchased at no other art fair in the world will be assembled in the conceptually open exhibition architecture of the «Art Unlimited» hall. Artists from 27 countries will be participating. The roster of participants reads like a Whos Who of the international art scene, the list ranging from Daniel Buren and Marina Abramovic to Walter de Maria and highlighting many young talents. Public Art Projects
The exhibition square in front of Art Basel becomes a platform for art projects in a public space. Ten projects by internationally known artists will be displayed here during the International Art Show. In creating Public Art Projects, Art Basel offers a multimedia platform to artists seeking an alternative to the White Cube of the exhibition hall. The works exhibited on the square will make direct contact with unbiased observers; engaging with the daily lives of passers-by in a way that may be poetic, alienating or surprising. Public Art Projects is not a traditional sculpture exhibition, but facilitates encounters in an urban environment. Works by the following artists will be shown and will be available for purchase: Jonathan Monk, Allan Kaprow, Manfred Pernice, Jean Michel Othonier, Tasro Niscino, Atelier van Lieshout, Steiner/Lenzlinger, Tunga. «Art Statements»
Seventeen one-person shows by young artists from 6 coun-tries will be on display in the special «Art Statements» sec-tor. They were selected by the Art Basel Committee from over 200 applications. «Art Statements» offers galleries and their young artists a special platform, at reduced rates, that brings them to the attention of an international audience of curators, collec-tors and the media. «Art Film»
Every evening, the Stadtkino Basel will screen a high-caliber selection of films. These will include films and video works by artists such as Yayoi Kusama, Anri Sala, Chrisoph Büchel, Jeremy Deller, Tracey Emin and Steven Parrino. This year, «Art Film» is being curated by Gianni Jetzer, the director of the Kunsthalle St. Gallen. One highlight of «Art Flm» is the Swiss première of a documentary by the American director Sidney Pollack on the life and architecture of the Canadian Frank O. Gehry.
Museums exhibitions in Basel
Rarely have the museum exhibitions in and around Basel been as outstanding as this year. Fondation Beyeler, Riehen/Basel: Pablo Picasso and Surrealism 19241939; Museum Jean Tinguely: Moving Parts. Forms of the Kinetic; Kunsthalle Basel: Tomma Abts, Artur Zmijewski, Carl Andre; Kunstmuseum Basel: Covering the Real; Kunstmuseum Basel, Museum für Gegenwartskunst: Simon Starling; Schaulager: Jeff Wall: Photographs 19782004; Ar-chitekturmuseum Basel: Diener & Diener (working title); Kunsthaus Baselland. Muttenz: Space Invaders; Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein (Germany): Gaetano Pesce Das Rumoren der Zeit.
For further information please visit our website www.ArtBasel.com
