Art Basel 2009

Here follows my list of favourites in this year’s edition of ART / Basel:

1. Il Tempo del Postino, a group show curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Philippe Parreno, originally comissioned by The Manchester International Festival. Conceived as a time-based and not a space-based exhibition, the show brings a series of installations by different artists to a seated audience, in this case in the Theater Basel.
I specially liked some pieces such as Tino Sehgal’s “untitled” in which the stage curtains were manipulated to create a compelling coreography. In Anri Salas’ “Flutterbyes” a series of interpreters where positioned in different locations amidst the audience singing Madame Butterflyes’ aria “Un Bel di Vedremo”. This unforeseen closeness with the opera singers resulted in one of the most touching and dramatic moments of the evening.
Also breath taking was Tacita Deans’ film piece “Merce Cunningham performs STILLNESS (in three movements) to John Cages’ composition 4′33″ with Trevor Carlson, New York City, 28 April 2007″. It is truly “an elegiac portrait of an aging artist and his deceased partner, articulating the melancholia of passing time” (Lauren Hinkson).
Not less powerfull was Doug Aitkens’ “The handle comes up the hammer goes down” performance piece, in which several cattle mid-western auctioners perform live and at amazing speed a bidding on the audience.
Dominique Gonzalez Foersters’ piece “Sol is going home” provided the most beautifull end to this event as the musicians slowly left one by one until the very last one of them was left alone still playing.

2. Anne-Mie Kerckhoven, “Schatten uit het westen”, 1993 and Mark Manders’ figure installation at Zeno X Gallery /BE

3. Alicja Kwade, Different Condition (State of Aggregation) 2,2009 at Johann König Galerie /DE (image above)

4. Stefan Hirsig, collage / mixed media on plywood and John Bocks’ installation at Galerie Stefan Hirsig /DE

5. Mathew Hale, “Die Münze (DM)” installation at Wentrup Gallery /DE

And my list of favourites at VOLTA / Basel:

1. Chris Gillis, “Inside, Into the frame”, Dagmar De Pooter Gallery/BE (image above)

2. Nadin Maria Rüfenachts’ photographic work, Galerie Kleindienst /DE

3. Herbert Weber, “Der Himmel ist immer oben”, 2006 and the “Normale Fakten” serie, 2008, artrepco galerie /CH

4. Nick Crowe and Ian Rawlinson, The Four Horsemen, 2009, Hi-definition video, Ceri Hand Gallery /UK

5. Dean Baldwin, Minibar Project and Sandy Plotnikoff postcards, Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Art Projects / CA

My list of favourites at SCOPE /Basel:

1. Krell 2 go, krellwear.com
Fast chic: you could choose a fabric and with the help of Karelle Levy (founder of Krellwear) customize your own piece on site.

And finally my choices at LISTE /Basel:

1. Lisa Oppenheim, Harris Lieberman Gallery /USA

2. Emilie Pitoiset, “Liebe ist kälter als der Tod”, 2009, Galerie Lucile Corty /FR

3. Jimmy Robert, Galerie Diana Stigter /NL (image above)