(Credit: Gage Academy)Photos and Writing by Faith-Ann Young for ArtObserved
Art Basel Miami, nestled in the sun and exorbitant hedonism that epitomizes Miami, began with a flush of exhibits, salacious parties, and collagen displays yesterday. The 4-day extravaganza is the most vital art show in North America and a requisite on the growing Art Fair circuit. To accommodate, Miami, usually a place that moves at the pace of its large population of retirees- adopted a New York pace- as party after party unveiled the newest pieces the Art world has to offer.
Beginning at 10 am, a media reception in the convention center hosted champagne, deviled shrimp and an opportunity to peak at the 200 gallery displays including 1500 artists. Held in a maze of white walls, it was immense and intimidating in size and visual stimulation. One critique is that at an event this large, the most time one can dedicate to a piece is a few seconds; no matter- as is widely known almost all the displayed pieces are already sold. So why head to Miami? Regardless of its commercial grandeur, intimidating size, and general over-exposure (most of New York has headed this way- and it is more likely this year to run into a record label executive, magazine intern, or investment banker than a legitimate artist), Basel and the manifold associated satellite fairs expose the state of the art world today, the commercially-accepted frontiers, the coinciding limitations, as well mandatory networking opportunities.
Full details after the jump. (more…)
