Art Basel, the renowned international art fair, has long been a highlight in the art world's calendar and the 2024 edition once again proved why it's such a pivotal event. This year's art week drew an impressive 91,000 visitors, up from 82,000 in 2023, and featured 285 exhibitors from 40 countries. As well as that Basel became host to off-site programmes: Parcours, Liste, and Basel Social Club. The atmosphere was vibrant, with a mix of seasoned collectors, art enthusiasts, and curious newcomers all mingling in the sprawling halls of the Messeplatz and beyond.
The fair kicked off with a bang, with major sales setting a positive tone right from the start. One of the standout transactions was the sale of Joan Mitchell’s "Sunflowers" for a staggering $20 million, the highest reported sale of the fair. Gerhard Richter's "Abstraktes Bild" fetched $6 million, while Yayoi Kusama's whimsical "Aspiring to Pumpkin's Love, the Love in My Heart" went for $5 million. These blue-chip sales highlighted the strong demand for top-tier artworks, even amid a cautious market environment.
This year's fair was not just about high-profile sales. The Unlimited sector, known for its large-scale projects, showcased 70 stunning installations and video projections that captivated visitors. Meanwhile, the Parcours sector brought art into the city with site-specific installations in various locations, from empty storefronts to hotels, blending seamlessly with Basel's urban landscape.
One of the week's biggest highlights was the Beyeler Foundation's 2024 group show, a breathtaking and unconventional exhibit that became the talk of the town. Diverging from its usual solo exhibitions, the show dazzled visitors with installations that transformed the museum into a dynamic, living space. Inside the museum, Sehgal’s innovative curatorial approach further disrupts traditional expectations. His performance-based curation involves constantly remixing and rehanging the Beyeler's permanent collection, creating a sense of perpetual installation.
The dynamic arrangements juxtapose works like Francis Bacon’s intense triptych with Rudolf Stingel’s abstraction, and positions an Alberto Giacometti sculpture as if it were gazing into Bacon's work. It’s a sense of play that really brings the show to life, and it’s a simple yet effective way to offer fresh perspectives in a sometimes fusty art world. After all, isn’t it supposed to be a space for expressive freedom?
Highlights include Okoyomon’s enchanting yet sinister greenhouse installation filled with flowers and butterflies, Parreno’s techno-mythological tower pulsating with lights, and Nakaya’s mist sculpture that periodically envelops the surroundings in fog.
Art Basel 2024 showcased why it remains at the forefront of the contemporary art scene. With significant sales, innovative new features, and a strong commitment to addressing global issues, the fair continues to evolve and adapt, ensuring its place as a must-visit event in the art world.