Art Basel
Among the famous mixing with the upper end of the hoi polloi, Brad Pitt joined us in Basel last night to take a spin around town, I guess and look at the art…amazing art…art-not-to-be-missed art. http://www.artbasel.com/
In addition to seeing what’s new, now and wow in the current international scene, the whole ambience and cultural mix is overwhelming and powerful to say the least.
Very clean, Swiss, business-like security guards greet you and dot themselves at every conceivable point of movement or exchange. Not surprising considering the value of the art work inside.
Every language fills the air- and you can see everyone from gallery owners wheeling and dealing their clients work, to investors, to magazine vendors and kiosk merchants. People straight off the street, just curious rub shoulders with very well-heeled and turned out fashionistas from galleries and salons in New York and Paris making themselves felt and their presence known. Sexy sheiks drape themselves causually over middle eastern pop stars and all amidst this amazing, beautiful, momentous power of human expression.
There is good art, silly art, new art, questionable art, amazing art- each piece is capable of moving a space inside you and allowing you to view your life and the world with fresh eyes. The coloured Kewpie dolls did give one pause, as well as the truck tire fountain- but the wall of floating letters, gave such a powerful impression of language and communication, it made up for those pointy doll heads.
Why am I writing about Art Basel? Well, in addition to the fact that it’s the biggest art event internationally and it’s happening in my home town this week, I also have the opportunity to participate in a contemporary original piece of live performance art. I play an aurafelian, this is a person who hears emotions inside their head. Whenever they have a strong emotion, an aurafelian hears a range of sounds in her head that no one else hears.
Two writers represented the Annet Gelink Gallery in Amsterdam http://www.annetgelink.nl have created an original work The Third Story, already performed in New York and Amsterdam, and featured at Art Basel this week. Bedwyr Williams and Ryan Gander collide human interest stories they originally found on the internet. The actors are “invited” to come and tell their of their unusual stories to the public in a type of organized, free-spirited expression. We all met today in the gallery and had a great time working and bringing everything to life. It’s exciting and thrilling- no matter how large or small to work on original pieces with the creators at hand.
Okay- I’m off to hear those sounds in my head- walking through Art Basel is enough to make my head ring!