Latest news with #artfair
Malay Mail
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
Basel's art fair marches toward utopia — dragging democracy's ghosts along
BASEL, June 22 — This year's Art Basel, the world's top contemporary art fair, paints a portrait of a troubled planet, with works embodying the relentless pursuit of happiness and the fragility of democracies. The four-day event in the northern Swiss border city of Basel, which closes today, features more than 280 galleries presenting works by around 4,000 artists. The monumental works section features an 85-metre-long installation entitled The Voyage — A March To Utopia. Visitors look at the artwork entitled 'The Voyage — A March to Utopia, 2022' by Dutch Atelier Van Lieshouton on display at the Unlimited section of the Art Basel modern and contemporary art fair in Basel June 17, 2025. — AFP pic Created by the studio of Dutch artist Joep van Lieshout, it features 80 large sculptures forming a procession of absurd objects, where 'everybody walks in the same direction... on their way to a happy place', the artist told AFP. The journey begins with a team of oxen, followed by all means of getting to that better world, including a walking stick, a cart, a toilet on wheels, a wheelchair and a mobile surgical theatre for those struggling to keep up. A visitor has a close look at the artwork 'The Voyage — A March to Utopia, 2022' by Dutch Atelier Van Lieshouton on display at the Unlimited section of the Art Basel modern and contemporary art fair in Basel June 17, 2025. — AFP pic Next come objects representing everything the convoy is carrying, followed by sculptures of ghosts symbolising those who didn't make it to the end. It ends with machines set to destroy the road behind them, so that 'there's no going back', the artist explained. Visitors walk past the artwork 'In God We Trust, 2020' by Danish contemporary artist Danh Vo on display at the Unlimited section of the Art Basel modern and contemporary art fair in Basel June 17, 2025. — AFP pic Flag of logs A stone's throw away, Spanish artist Jaume Plensa presents a work composed of 21 aluminium doors engraved with the articles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. Entitled Forgotten Dreams, it invites viewers to contemplate collective aspirations and not forget the horrors of the past. Vietnam-born Danish artist Danh Vo has installed a huge US flag made from hundreds of logs and 13 steel stars, referencing the first version of the flag from 1777. Reconstructed at Art Basel, In God We Trust was first created in 2020, during the presidential election campaign between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The logs were removed one by one and burned in fireplaces, gradually causing the flag to disappear. The work serves as an allegory of the fragility of US democracy. Visitors stand next to 'Gesture to Home, 2024', a work by Haitian-American artist Didier William, on display at the Unlimited section of the Art Basel modern and contemporary art fair in Basel June 17, 2025. — AFP pic Go-go dancers Art Basel is above all a commercial event, where artists and galleries come to meet wealthy collectors. But the fair is also very popular with art lovers who come for the simple pleasure of browsing the works on show. Its 'Unlimited' section brings together monumental pieces intended for museums and major collections. It includes recent as well as older works, including a performance created in 1991 by Felix Gonzalez-Torres, a US artist from Cuba who died of AIDS in 1996. Called 'Untitled' (Go-Go Dancing Platform', it features a man dressed in silver shorts dancing on a podium for a few minutes, twice a day. 'It's an interesting moment to revisit it,' said the 'Unlimited' section's curator, Giovanni Carmine, recalling that the artist created the performance shortly after the death of his partner from AIDS, 'in a context that was also very reactionary'. Gonzalez-Torres responded with 'a very political gesture' with a performance that is 'a celebration of life'. A work by Belgian visual artist Hans Op de Beeck entitled 'Zhai-Liza (angel), 2024' is on display at the gallery Templon during the Art Basel fair for Modern and contemporary art, in Basel June 17, 2025. — AFP pic Angels and light The 'Unlimited' hall features 67 works, including three angels by German sculptor Thomas Schutte, which foster 'a certain ambivalence', said Carmine. With 'their wings resembling razors', are they 'protective angels or angels of the apocalypse?', he asked. Japanese artist Izumi Kato brings a touch of poetry with his stone structures, painted with enigmatic faces, drawing on the Japanese tradition that each stone contains a spirit. US artist Arlene Shechet plays on contrasts, with a heavy orange abstract sculpture designed to give an impression of lightness despite its weight. 'The current political situation is dark and so bringing light and colour and joy and spirit and art is very meaningful,' she told AFP. — AFP
Bloomberg
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Bloomberg
At Art Basel, Dealers Reap Rewards By Sidestepping Politics and War
About halfway through the opening day of Art Basel's fair in Switzerland, the dealer Larry Gagosian was sitting on a bench near his booth. Crowds—incredibly thick when the art fair opened to VIPs at 11 a.m.—had dispersed a bit as grandees shuffled into the convention center courtyard for lunch, queuing up for sausages, oysters and ice cream cones. Gagosian, though, seemed content to stay inside, overseeing a presentation that included an early Cy Twombly painting priced at over $30 million. 'We've sold quite a few things, considering the state of the world,' he said. 'I'm encouraged that initially we've been doing quite a bit of business. We live in a crazy time, and I think that a lot of people want to take refuge in some other universe.' (Art Basel's VIP days end June 18; public days are June 19–22.)
Japan Times
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Osaka wants to show off its artistic talents
What is Osaka's brand? One of Japan's largest cities, it is mainly known for comedy and street food, that wisecracking cousin to all-business Tokyo and elegant Kyoto. In hosting a world expo for the second time, though, Osaka would like to be taken more seriously, particularly when it comes to art. Osaka International Art , an invite-only three-day art fair organized by Osaka Prefecture, Osaka City and the Osaka Culture and Arts Project Executive Committee opened May 31. The private sector is also launching bigger projects, with the Shinsaibashi Parco department store holding its inaugural Kansai Art Annual 2025 exhibition to showcase emerging artists from the area, and interior design brands Muji and Idee debuting Life in Art Osaka Artscapes 2025 , which is modeled after last year's Tokyo Artscapes. All three projects are collaborating or associated with Osaka Art and Design (OAD) , a multivenue event taking place from May 28 to June 24. 'Of course, we had the Expo in mind when planning this a few years ago,' says general producer Akio Aoki, adding that OAD started in 2023. He says this is a time of 'overlap of many different countries, cultures and people that will gather in the city,' a nod to the project's theme of 'overlap.' Aoki is also behind Designart Tokyo, a festival launched in 2017. When asked to compare the two, he says OAD leans more toward art. In addition to galleries and public spaces, department stores in Osaka also lent their space for art pop-ups and exhibitions. | ZORIA PETKOSKA 'The impression I have is that Osaka, and Kansai in general, is very personable, colorful and fun,' he says, adding the art here 'is not swayed by trends and is more unique.' Although OAD includes international artists, more attention is given to those from Kansai, some of whose creations are inextricably linked to their locus. For example, Osakan Shotaro Sanada paints abstract urban landscapes of his hometown and they comprised the bulk of his debut showing at Hankyu Umeda department store earlier this month. Inspired by Shinto practices, Momoko Fujii creates straw sculptures from rice she grew herself in the Kyoto countryside where she was born and still resides. Her work is showing at the Wa Gallery until June 15. Maki Takato's 'Yokai Unity,' showing at the Osaka Takashimaya department store, includes a 3D-scanned replica of a Zen Buddhist monk's hands in prayer among two ant-like yōkai (monsters based on folklore) she created. Osakan Shotaro Sanada paints abstract urban landscapes of his hometown. | ZORIA PETKOSKA Momoko Fujii creates straw sculptures from rice she grows in the Kyoto countrtside with techniques learned from her elders. | ZORIA PETKOSKA While the link to Osaka and broader Kansai isn't obvious at first glance, the 'Re:Re' exhibition at Laugh & Peace Art Gallery that wrapped up on June 9 is connected to Osaka's comedy scene. A Kobe-based artist known as 'alan' tackles issues of copyright and authorship in his 'Under 50% + Point' series, which was the basis of 'Re:Re:,' using famous characters but confining them to only half of the painting's total surface. 'He pushes the boundaries between originality and appropriation,' says Hiromi Mano, a representative of Yoshimoto Kogyo, the Osaka-based talent agency that owns Laugh & Peace Art Gallery. "Our company often deals with copyright, like for example in parody. So we have an interest in this topic." Art and ambiguity OAD has brought together more than 60 venues — from small galleries to department stores and product design shops — but quantity seems to be a double-edged sword. The event's organizers struggle to keep the exhibits cohesive and even visible. The inescapable visual clutter of advertising swallows the small art pop-ups in the giant department stores, often tucked on upper floors and in sporadically used event spaces. Most of the artworks are too marketable, safe and fail to trigger any real buzz. As simple products, the design offerings in particular fail to stand out. Aoki accepts the criticism and says, 'It is at times hard to distinguish (the art) despite the signs placed ... (OAD) is still a work in progress.' However, he is also quick to point out that there is beauty in 'the ambiguity.' 'The good point of that unclear (location) is the lucky coincidence of coming across art,' he says, 'Art discovery is one of my goals for this event.' The art fares better both in terms of visibility and quality at the individual galleries, though it often looks unconnected to OAD overall. These exhibitions also run shorter than the duration of the entire event. Akio Aoki, general producer of Osaka Art and Design (OAD), highlighted the increase of public artworks in the OAD program this year and his commitment to grow this number in following years. | ZORIA PETKOSKA OAD isn't the only event to face challenges with visibility, however. In 2022 and 2023, Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival placed artworks in the same department stores. Currently showing, the audio exhibition "Speculative Music/Narrative" — billed as being screened on digital signage at the Lucua shopping mall — is hard to catch due to brief and undisclosed screening times. This year's Study: Osaka Kansai International Art Festival has directly partnered with Expo 2025 and takes place concurrently. As one part of its program, several artworks have been placed around the expo grounds, but unfortunately, the flashy design of the expo pavilions distracts the eye. With minimal signage, the art is indistinguishable from standard landscaping (there are two artworks that are made of stones and coral) and wall decoration (solid color splashes on a building wall is another example). Accessible art Like Osaka's culture, the city's art offerings are best when they are out in the open, easily approachable and unpretentious. OAD prides itself on offering most of its exhibits free, with the exception of any that are inside collaborating venues with their own entrance fees, such as Tadao Ando's expansive 'Youth' exhibition at Vs. Gallery. During OAD's opening ceremony, Aoki highlighted the increase of public artworks in the OAD program this year and his commitment to grow this number in following years. He is an advocate for having a Japanese version of the "1% for art" initiative which started overseas and which allots 1% of public funds for art and placing the commissioned art in public spaces. Currently, in Asia, there is similar legislation in South Korea and Taiwan. On this, Aoki accentuates Adam Nathaniel Furman's 'A Forest of Delight,' an installation of colorful pillars at Umekita Plaza outside Osaka Station that invites passersby to enter freely, as well as 'wataridori,' a multicolored inflated sculpture by YAR, led by Yoshirotten, placed on the fifth floor of the station, at the Toki-no-Plaza space. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yoshirotten said he wanted to place the art in a public space 'to create conversation." As part of Osaka Art and Design, 'wataridori,' a big inflatable sculpture by YAR, is placed on the fifth floor of Osaka Station. | ZORIA PETKOSKA Whether it's conversation, playfulness or just a quick snap for social media, Aoki believes 'public art nurtures general culture' and 'increases art literacy.' He argues that appreciation for art often bleeds over to craft and design, which in turn can lead to spending habits that favor artists. He says that even the NFT bubble helped 'raise interest in buying art among younger generations' and sees increased preference for physical artworks as a counterreaction to the digital art market . 'Oil paintings with a lot of layers (of paint) are popular now," he adds. While neither public art nor corporate ties are groundbreaking, the attention on Osaka due to the expo offers events like OAD a shot at increased attention. The city's art scene is quietly thriving as the birthplace of such artists as Chiharu Shiota, Kohei Nawa and Kenji Yanobe . It's a place of pure earnest energy and when that's directed toward art, it might just kickstart a new vibrant chapter for the city as a whole. Osaka Art and Design 2025 runs through June 24 at various locations. For more information, visit Travel and accommodation for this were provided by OAD. No portion of this article has been shared with any third party prior to publication.
CBS News
07-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Businesses 'Super Excited' For Edina Art Fair after Construction Delays
It's Minnesota's oldest — and one of its largest art fairs. The Edina Art fair brings tens of thousands of art lovers together each year for a chance to purchase something that's one of a kind. But this year, it's taken on a new purpose – a boom for businesses that say they're still feeling the effects of 2024's construction at 50th and France. "We went through what was supposed to be three months and turned into six of construction," said Joseph Rueter, owner and founder of Vivront. "We're super happy to have that over, and super excited to have people come back to 50th." "July, august, September, October. It was over five months," said Richelle Norton, owner of North Star Art Club. Both business owners say they're excited to have this weekend be all about what it should be – art and community. "I just love people, and so I think learning about art helps you understand people and also connect with people," Norton said. "With the construction gone, we're back. We're super happy to serve the community," Rueter said.
Vogue Arabia
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue Arabia
An Immersive Guide to Downtown Design Riyadh
A treat for design lovers, Downtown Design Riyadh will feature a plethora of limited-edition pieces from leading international galleries and regional collectives in a fair from May 20 to May 23rd. Gallery COLLECTIONAL will feature work by New York-based Apparatus Studio and Draga & Aurel, while Venini, known for its stunning glass creations, brings timeless pieces by designers Michele De Lucchi and Peter Marino. Helen Chislett Gallery presents the work of British architect Thomas Heatherwick with his striking Extrusion benches, while Jordan-based Naqsh Collective offers a regional voice through a poetic fusion of Arab craftsmanship and contemporary form, celebrating heritage through design. Helen Chislett Gallery, Thomas Heatherwick The fair is also set to welcome an impressive line-up of global brands, with exciting debuts and creative collaborations, including Cosentino and Kuwait-based Babnimnim Design Studio's Moon Vignettes , an installation inspired by the ancient concept of the Moon Gate. Lasvit is showcasing Splash , a luminous piece designed by Martin Gallo that recently showcased at this year's Salone del Mobile in Milan. Natuzzi Italia will debut the modular Amama sofa for the first time in the region, and Maison Louis Drucker teams with TRAME and Aranda\Lasch for a tech-meets-craft launch. Other highlights include Saint Louis' Torsade , and Scarlet Splendour, which makes its regional debut with bold brass designs by designer Richard Hutten. Bompas & Parr, the London-based, creative duo known for crafting wild, immersive food experiences that blend art, science, and gastronomy have collaborated with regional eatery The Lighthouse to bring an onsite, multi-sensory pop-up at the fair. Glow-in-the-dark desserts and conceptual mocktails are served in a space designed by local firm Laeta Interior, inspired by the disciplined dreamers of the Bauhaus movement. Saudi specialty coffee brands Origin Roasters and Marble x Easy Bakery will also bring fresh brews and local flavours to the fair.
