Basel. Is It Worth The Hassle?

Art Basel in Miami has morphed into a Art buffet of sorts, if you’re not too
careful you can get very sick.  At times you are overwhelmed by
choice, all you want to do is sample, but you run the risk of getting
full very fast.  My reason for attending was to see what was all the
hype about, I went as an observer not as a purchaser. At this point I
am more concerned with floor space then wall space.

This is not the case for the thousands who flock to Miami for sun, fun
and the perfect piece for their living room(s).  On opening day the
race begins, serious collectors trade in stilettos for running shoes
and come armed with a plan of attack.  The red stickers go flying and
galleries who pay an average of a hundred thousand in costs can
justify their reasons for showing.  But is it worth attending?, if you
fit into the high roller category Basel is North America’s answer to
Monte Carlo.  Although during lunch I had the chance to dine with a
serious collector who instead felt that it had become more like Las
Vegas.

Case in point Basel has reached it’s growing pains stage, 5 years.  It
is now the perfect time to look forward as well as see how far it has
come, and in this case Art Basel has come a long way.  What was once
the main attraction the convention center has become a stop on the
tour.  As in New York one must attend the MOMA but more cutting edge
pieces are found in Dumbo or Chelsea.  This is the case for Basel,
satellite fairs have become all the more interesting.  There are now
over a dozen satellite fairs that have popped up all over South beach.

Is this too much of a good thing?, Design Miami is now in competition
with Aqua, Scope or  Flow.  One would argue change is a good thing,
but many have found the fair too overwhelming, hotel price’s
outrageous and traffic from Miami beach to Wynwood a nightmare. All of
this choice can lead to art fatigue, the symptoms were apparent
everywhere.

And so is Basel worth the hassle?

Yes, but try and limit your time at the main attraction.  A sterile
convention center does not have the same feel as a hotel room
converted gallery space at Pool Boomerang or Aqua, where numerous
artists had set up shop.  The more cutting edge pieces were found off
the beaten path.  On Saturday the design district opened it’s doors to
show it’s wears.  As was the case of the convention center Design
Miami is just the main attraction but by no means the most
interesting.  Moss Gallery had a show as well as The Pompidou, The
Deitch gallery teamed up with Paper to create an interesting concept
store.  But again art is in the eye of the beholder, you’ll just have
to decide for yourself, next year.

Contributed by Amy Daroukakis