The Grand Palais in Paris, reopened after three years of restoration, welcomed Art Basel Paris for the first time (from 18 to 20 October), previously hosted at the Grand Palais Ephémère. The third Parisian appointment of the International Modern and Contemporary Art Fair, which is also held in the as yet unsurpassed “mother house” Basel, as well as Miami and Hong Kong, is taking on greater importance.
Palais Royale, Art Basel Paris stands, @Courtesy of Art Basel.
The City of Light now seems a candidate to become the world capital of art and culture, with its array of institutions and initiatives (the opening in 2025 of the new headquarters of the Cartier Foundation designed by Jean Nouvel, next to the Louvre, will further strengthen this position). Significant help comes from tax breaks launched by the French government (the VAT rate for imports and sales of works of art is 5.5%, while in Italy it is 22%).
A record-breaking fair
<img itemprop="contentUrl" class="img-responsive" src="https://www.milanofinanza.it/remote/static.milanofinanza.it/content_upload/img/2024/11/202411061706062413/AliceNeel_13812-255603.jpeg?w=692&h=&mode=crop&anchor=topcenter&format=jpg&quality=65" alt="Alice Neel, Mady, 1948, smelled her masonite, Galleria Victoria Miro (©MZ).”/>Alice Neel, Mady, 1948, smelled her masonite, Galleria Victoria Miro (©MZ).
Under the vaults of steel and glass, erected for the Universal Exhibition of 1900, a truly incomparable treasure chest, the exhibition was animated by 195 galleries from 42 countries with a host of collectors and museum directors, as well as a vast audience (65 thousand visitors ). All sealed, according to statements, by a sales record. Some undeclared as for the 1915 Malevich, from the Stedelijk collection in Amsterdam (purchased in 2015 for 21.4 million pounds, just to give room for imagination regarding the current figure), while the Spider I (1995) by Louise Bourgeois, from Hauser & Wirth, went for $20 million. Other top sales: Alice Neel, at Xavier Hufkens for $1.2 million, Julie Merethu, White Cube, for $9.5 million, to name just a few.
Between history and contemporaneity
JR, New York City Ballet art series, paper interaction #11, Galleria Continua (©MZ).
In the stands of the most important international gallery owners, historical artists alternate with works by established contemporaries. The section of Emerging However, it did not impress with any particular appearances. The new section Premisewith nine galleries which were granted total freedom on the themes and artists to exhibit, shone instead with original curatorial proposals. In general, it was noted that some themes present at the fair are in harmony with the three major exhibitions underway in Paris.
From the Fair to the major exhibitions
Pierpaolo Calzolari, Untitled, 1986/2014, salt, iron, lead, clip, candle. Franco Noero Gallery. Courtesy Galleria Franco Noero.
L’poor art refers to the great review of Pinault Commerce Exchange. The space given to surrealists connects to the largest retrospective on Surrealism ever held so far, held at Pompidou Center (which will close shortly until 2030 to get a makeover). While al Orsay Museum the exhibition dedicated toimpressionist Gustave Caillebotte: in addition to his paintings, those from his collection – of impressionist colleagues – bequeathed to the State are also brought together.
The African Mask by Romuald Hazoumè, Magnin-A Gallery (©MZ).
L’african art found correspondence with AKAA (Also Known As Africa) al Temple tile. Even theOutsider Art present at the fair had its reflection in the headquarters of The Molière: among the participants the Italian gallery Maroncelli 12, by Antonia Jacchia. On the same days, the excellent Design Miami Paris and Thema, dedicated to high-level design and independent designers, in Rue de l’Université, in two exquisite settings.
The ranking of the most interesting works
Leiko Ikemura, Face over the Horizon, 2008, Lisson Gallery (©MZ).
Returning to Art Basel Paris, it is difficult to rank among the many high-level works. Let’s leave out, but let’s not forget, incomparable works “out of competition”, such as the surrealist René Magritte, with The sensitive cord1960, by Landau Fine Art (sold at Christie’s in 2017 for £14.5 million). Attracted by the proposals in the various stands, they focused their attention on 13 artists. Here they are below.
Jannis Kounellis, Untitled, 1994, Cardi Gallery. Courtesy of Art Basel.
Jannis Kounellis at the Cardi Gallery, with two works from 1994 (already sold during the preview for 250 thousand and 350 thousand euros), in happy correspondence with the exhibition at the Bourse. Romuald Hazouméfrom the Magnin-A Gallery, an ironic interpreter of African masks, in the name of recycling. Leiko Ikemurarefined artist who blends Japanese and Western culture, with Face over the Horizon of 2008, at the Lisson Gallery. Paola Piviby Massimo De Carlo, with Untitled (Pearls)1999.
Tschabalala Self, Sleep Honey, 2024, tecnica mista. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Zurich/Vienna ©the artist. Photo Lance Brewer.
Tschabalala Selfin “solo show” at the Galerie Eva Presenhuber. The Harlem artist, who designed the stand’s scenography, is famous for her depictions of black female characters and curated the entire stand’s scenography. Pierpaolo Calzolarilinked to Arte Povera, at the Galleria Franco Noero, with Senza titolo, 1986/2014, salt, iron, lead, clip, candle. Gino De Dominiciswith the powerful Portraitan oil from 1989, at the Lia Rumma Gallery. Latifa Echakhch with the depths The Dark Daysink on canvas from 2024, by Kaufmann Repetto.
Ha Chong-Hyun, Conjunction 23-71, 2023, oil on hemp fabric, Kukje Gallery. Courtesy Kukye Gallery.
Ha Chong HyunKorean visual artist presents Conjunction 23-71, an oil on canvas from 2023, at the Kukje Gallery in Seoul (South Korea). Alice Neel, Mady, 1948, oil on masonite, from Victoria Miro. JR, the French artist known for monumental public art installations, with New York City Ballet art series, paper interaction #112014, at Galleria Continua. The Polish artist Paulina Olovska at the Pace Gallery, which curates the exhibition Mystic Sugardedicated to the connections between esotericism and the natural world.
Paulina Olowska, Louise at Claude Bernard (After Diana MacKown), 2024, Pace Gallery (©MZ).
Alongside his works, those of Kiki Smith, Louise Nevelson and Lucas Samaras. In the section PremisesFinally, the installation of Nil Yalter, French-Turkish artist: The AmbassaDRESSthe story behind a 1928 Lanvin dress that belonged to an ambassador. (Reproduction reserved)
