ART FAIRS:Art Basel Miami 2016

Over the years Art Basel Miami has become one of the most important and most promising Art Fairs. The Art Basel Miami 2016 opens on 1/12/16, with more than 269 of the world’s leading Modern and Contemporary art galleries that allow visitors to explore the many dimensions of Modern and Contemporary Art including Museum-caliber paintings, sculptures and classical photography, as well as works of an outsized scale, precisely curated projects, and site-specific artworks which take advantage of the unique Miami Beach landscape.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Art Basel Miami 2016 Archive

Art Basel Miami is divided in sections, to provide visitors the opportunity to see many different types of important works by more than 4,000 artists, from historical masterpieces to the work of the newest generation of artists. Comprising 193 of the world’s leading galleries, the Galleries sector presents the highest quality of painting, sculpture, drawing, installation, photography and video works. For the 3^rd year Survey, has 14 focused presentations of work from before 2000 presents precise art historical projects. They include solo presentations by an individual artist, juxtapositions and thematic exhibits from artists representing a range of cultures, generations and artistic approaches. The work of: Carmelo Arden Quin, Romare Bearden, Graciela Carnevale, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Margaret Kilgallen, Giorgio Morandi, Howardena Pindell, David Reed, George Rickey, Mimmo Rotella, Barbara T. Smith, Betye Saar, Kishio Suga, and Jacques Villeglé is on Presentation. The Positions sector allows curators, critics, and collectors to discover ambitious new talents from across the globe, by providing a platform for a single artist to present one major project. The sector Nova, is dedicated to younger galleries showing new work by up to three artists, this year features 35 exhibitors. The sector includes a disquieting installation of new works that use animal furs, chicken skin and synthetic flora to explore anxieties resulting from radical biotech by Anicka Yi. The Kabinett is a highly praised sector of the Art Basel Miami, in which galleries display carefully curated exhibitions within their booths, Kabinett features 29 projects this year.Galerie Nagel Draxler presents the “Paintings in Time” (1994) by Mike Kelley. The Paintings were created between Christmas and New Year, at a time that is both one of family gatherings and holiday parties as well as heightened feelings of loneliness, darkness and depression. Under the theme “Ground Control” the Public sector examines ways in which artists invent and imagine new kinds of space: physical, social and psychic. This year’s selection includes 20 site-specific works, transforming Miami Beach’s Collins Park into an outdoor exhibition space. “Naturaleza Urbana” (2012) by Yoan Capote addresses urbanization and the clash between man and nature. The installation comprise a large pair of bronze handcuffs and a key that will physically shackle together the bases of two trees, one large with a handcuff tight around its trunk, while the other is small enough that the closed handcuff will circle the base without touching it. The other participating artists are: Magdalena Abakanowicz, David Adamo, Jean-Marie Appriou, Eric Baudart, Huma Bhabha, Claudia Comte, Matías Duville, Camille Henrot, Glenn Kaino, Alicja Kwade, Sol LeWitt, Wagner Malta Tavares, Tony Matelli, William J. O’Brien, Anthony Pearson, Norbert Prangenberg, Ugo Rondinone, Tony Tasset and Erwin Wurm. The Film sector presents a premier program of 50 film and video. Selected from the show’s participating galleries this year’s program include s“Muxima”, the first film by Alfredo Jaar, as well as a silent film about music by Christian Marclay and a new work by Liliana Porter.

Info: Art Basel Miami 2016, Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, Duration: 1-4/12/16, Days & Hours: Thu (1/12) 11:00-15:00 Opening(by invitation only), Thu 1/12) 15:00-20:00, Fri (1/12) & Sat (2/12) 12:00-20:00, Sun (4/12) 12:00-18:00, www.artbasel.com