ART MARKET
Observer
Magazine about art and culture scene
Art Basel has this year brought together gallery owners, artists, curators, art critics, art lovers and, of course,
millionaire art collectors. Millions of dollars, however, were also the prizes for works of art. Already on the
first day there were million sales. The artwork Versammlung“ / "Assembly" by Gerhard Richter was sold for $
20 million. Eight paintings by Sigmar Polke, Neo Rauch, or a Georg Baselitz painting for 2,5 million euros were
sold. But also a Pablo Picasso plant by 40 million, as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein by several million euros,
or a work by Cindy Sherman offered by 650 000. But also works of art between 6000 and 14000 Euro, like
objects of the artist Giulia Cenci were sold.
In addition to Brad Pitt, who comes to Basel every year to enjoy and buy art, singer Rihanna was also
surprised on Friday, who visited the Art Basel after lunch in the restaurant "Teufelshof" and was loud "Blick"
from the artwork "Sacred Heart "Impressed by Jeff Koons at the booth of Larry Gagosian.
Not only the art in Basel was striking. The visitors to Art Basel were also attracted to art. There was a lot to
see: from Burberry, Valentino, to selfmade jeans and recycled clothes. Model Alessandra Ambrosio wore a
friendship bracelet from British label Bottletop, supporting the UN's goals for sustainable development. Some
even wore their art and thus attracted attention, like Pop Art artist Tanja Playner.
In addition to the Art Basel, there were some spectacular from the world of art in Basel to see. The Fondation
Beyeler extended the exhibition "The Young Picasso - Blue and Pink Period" for visitors to the Art Basel and
those attending the Venice Biennale. After the Gauguin exhibition 2016, the Picasso exhibition with 320,000
visitors since 3 February is the second most successful exhibition in the history of the Fondation Beyeler.
Basel in the art hype
Text: Heinz Playner
28.06.2019
The Kunstmuseum Basel hosted for the first time an event that was not officially called a party, but
combined art and music. The main act of the event was performed by musician and producer Flying Lotus
from Los Angeles.
The "2nd International Fine Art Biennale Basel", organized by the MAMAG Modern Art Museum
with curator Heinz Playner transformed the entire ground floor of the Grand Hotel Euler into an art museum
during Art Basel time and presented a selection of artists from several continents.
Some artists of the "2nd International Fine Art Biennale Basel" have received an art prize. Like the artist Bo
Song from South Korea. Her juicy colors, Buddhist philosophy and mandala stylized works of art impressed
not only curator Heinz Playner, but also the visitors of the exhibition. The artist Kalin Luy Ken also received
an art prize from the Biennale. His elaborate philosophical work "Chariots of Fire", which was conceived at
the "2nd International Fine Art Biennale Basel", refers to how people deal with the environment, themselves,
politics and the destruction of the world. The Biennale's art award winners include Hong Kong-born and UK-
based artist Wendy Yeo for her artworks with fish in a vivid abstract implementation.
A constant experiment of photography showed Biennale with
the works of the artist Pavel Proskuriakov. The result of his
work is always surprising, because the artist never knows
what that will look like and that releases his imagination.
The free play of the thoughts sets also artist Sisko Linnea in
her works of art. Her expressive, spontaneous works of art in
which she connects the conscious with the subconscious
were to be seen in Basel.
Golden colors in combination with impressionistic strokes
sound almost like classics. Karol McQuade from Costa Rica,
however, has created a striking implementation in her
artwork. Some works of art from the series "Golden Rain"
were on view in Basel and were well received by the
audience.
A mix of photography and design by US artist Howard Harris
was also on display at the Biennale in Basel. The
philosophical basis for Harris' work is partly the study of
quantum physics and chaos theory, in particular the
proposition that the observer always influences what is
observed.
The artist Aprajita S Chadha from Singapore also deals with
chaos. In Basel, the MAMAG Modern Art Museum presented
two of her works of art at the 2nd International Fine Art
Biennale in Basel. Her artworks are very much based on
emotions, inner exploration and a few small details, creating
communication between the artwork and the viewer.
Pop Art artist Tanja Playner in her dress and with her bag, designed from
her artwork, sits on the artwork of Franz West on the Unlimited
Pop Art artist Tanja Playner in dress and bag, designed from her artwork
Curator Heinz Playner and artist FANT Wenger at the 2nd International Fine Art
Biennale Basel
One of the highlights of the Biennale included some
artworks by the world well known pop art artist Tanja
Playner. The artist deals with the topics of love, dealing with
each other and sets accents to a positive attitude in life.
The art of the artist Erica Fromme from Germany also brings
a positive mood. Her works of art, which she themselves
called "Crazy Art" were to see in Basel. Among the eye-
catchers of the Biennale is the artwork "Empfnger" by the
Swiss artist Fant Wenger. His conceptual art is based on
communication between people, nature, information and
technology. The work of Jungching Hsiau from Taiwan
aroused great interest among the audience. His artworks
show the precise technique of caligraphy and emotional
communication between the sheet and the artist. Works by
the artist Dominique Meunier from France were also shown
at the Biennale in Basel. His abstract artworks mostly in blue
green colors were very well received by the audience.
Extraordinary is the characteristic of art in Basel. The black
and white snapshots of faces and situations captured during
his travels are a feature of his iconographic production by
Italian photographer Maurizio Iazeolla. Emotional facial
expressions set in soap bubbles were seen with excitement
by visitors to the Biennale in Basel.
For the artist Christin Ohlin Sign Kin from Sweden, art is not
only a self-healing tool, but also the communication tool
between her psychic language and the viewer. At the
Biennale the artwork of the artist "Lily was here" was
exhibited.
Curator Heinz Playner and artist Kalin Luy Ken at the 2nd International Fine Art
Biennale Basel
Pop Art artist Tanja Playner
at the 2nd International Fine Art
Biennale Basel
artwork „Lily was here“ from Christin
Ohlin Sign Kin
Artist Bo Song at the 2nd International Fine Art Biennale
Basel
Artist Bo Song at the 2nd International Fine Art Biennale
Basel