The world’s leading art fair Art Basel opens in Switzerland for its 2022 edition in a more favourable market climate after a two-year gap due to the pandemic, says Euronews.
During a press conference, the organisers reiterated their support for Ukraine and announced a total donation of CHF110,000 (€105,000) which will be split between three humanitarian organisations helping victims of the war.
“In support of Ukraine, taking place throughout the city of Basel, and centred around Mikhailov’s photographic series called ‘Temptation of Death’, we’re proud to be collaborating on this project, the Liste art fair and the PinchukArtCentre. In addition, we’re also pleased to support tonight’s sold-out benefit concert in Basel by the punk collective Pussy Riot, one of Russia’s most critical voices against the Putin regime,” says Marc Spiegel, Art Basel global director.
The artworks were curated by Björn Geldhof, an art centre director who used to be based in Kyiv and now lives in Belgium.
Alongside the fair, a Pussy Riot’s concert was hosted on 14. June, a benefit concert to show support for Ukraine — just like the artwork outside the music venue Kaserne, made by Ukrainian artist Boris Mikhailov.
The photography exhibition in the city is designed as a long walk to explore the urban environment.
All of Mikhailov’s artworks are composed of two photographs next to each other, almost fused together.
It explores the boundaries of forbidden images during Soviet times while showing optimism towards the rebirth of an independent Ukraine.
The exhibition and the concert are positively welcomed by attendees of the fair, who think that the organisers did the right thing.
But the formal and luxurious art event is also contrasting a lot with the outside world: rising inflation, and the war in Ukraine.
Art Basel will open to the public from 16 June and will run until 19 June. Admission costs CHF 65 (€62), concessions are available.
Video source: ASSOCIATED PRESS
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
LENGTH: 7:41
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Basel, Switzerland — 14 June 2022
1.Various of group Pussy Riot rehearsing their concert in support of Ukraine at concert venue Kaserne Basel, sound engineer and technical staff adjusting sound and lights
2. Various of photographic artwork by Boris Mikhailov from the series “Temptation of Death” located on the wall of concert venue Kaserne Basel
3. Various of Messe Basel where Art Basel is underway, sign reading (English): “Art Basel”
4. Wide of press conference
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marc Spiegel, Art Basel global director: ++QUALITY AS INCOMING++
“In support of Ukraine, taking place throughout the city of Basel, and centred around Mikhailov’s photographic series called ‘Temptation of Death’, we’re proud to be collaborating on this project, the Liste art fair and the PinchukArtCentre. In addition, we’re also pleased to support tonight’s sold-out benefit concert in Basel by the punk collective Pussy Riot, one of Russia’s most critical voices against the Putin regime.”
6. Various of Messe Basel where Art Basel is underway
7. Wide of press conference
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Björn Geldhof, Director of the PinchukArtCentre:
“It’s a support that is essential into winning this war, which is incredibly important as this is not a war of territory, this is a war of values. And Ukrainians are defending European values today. With this exhibition of support, I think Basel and all the institutions around it are actually giving something very important back to Ukraine.”
9. Various of photographic artwork by Boris Mikhailov from the series “Temptation of Death” located of Messeplatz
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Björn Geldhof, Director of the PinchukArtCentre:
“We have a parcours of 11 stations (stops) where we are bringing together photographs of Boris Mikhailov, one of the stars of the Ukrainian art scene, an artist of 82 years old, who was born in the Soviet Union and used his Soviet past as a way to look into what it means to be Ukrainian today.”
11. Various of photographic artwork by Boris Mikhailov from the series “Temptation of Death” located on the wall of List art centre
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Björn Geldhof, Director of the PinchukArtCentre:
“Photography for Mikhailov is always about an image that is alive and that is made alive in conversation with another photograph. So for him to bring photographs together is very natural, it is what he has done from the early days of his practice. At the same time, every time he positions a photograph in another context, the reading of the photograph changes. So it’s not only the juxtaposition of two images, it’s also the context around it that plays a big role in the understanding of the photography that he’s showing here.”
13. Various of fountain in front of Basel Theatre with artwork in the background
14. Various of photographic artwork by Boris Mikhailov from the series “Temptation of Death” located on the wall of art gallery Kunsthalle
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Basel, Switzerland — 13 June 2022
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Lisa Schiff, President and founder of SFA advisory:
“There is something potentially off-putting when so many people are coming here to acquire artworks during a major war situation. So I think it’s very important — but also art is the best way to communicate things to people and hopefully there will be artworks dealing with those issues directly.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Basel, Switzerland — 14 June 2022
16. Various of photographic artworks by Boris Mikhailov from the series “Temptation of Death” located in the lobby of the Fine Arts Museum of Basel (Kunstmuseum Basel)
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Todd Levin, Art adviser, Levin Art Group:
“The arts, while it’s well-meaning, or having a concert like “We are the world,’ it’s limited in its effect. I think it’s wonderful that they’re doing it, but I’m hoping that if people care about that specific subject, that they’re motivated enough to get interested in it in the political front where the force can be applied to hopefully make meaningful change.”
18. Tilt down of Basel town hall (Basler Rathaus)
19. Various of photographic artwork by Boris Mikhailov from the series “Temptation of Death” located in Basel town hall (Basler Rathaus)