Chris Burden‘s Curved Bridge (2003) from Galerie Krinzinger at Art Unlimited; All photos on site for Art Observed by Caroline Claisse

Art 43 Basel continues today with the 2nd VIP Preview day, although the fair’s Art Unlimited and Art Statements sections were unveiled two days prior on the evening of Monday, June 11.  Art Unlimited is exhibiting 62 projects this year, all traditionally large in scale, surpassing the conventional gallery confines.  The value of the works shown is equally as sizeable and many have already been sold by the nearly 100 internationally represented galleries participating. Art Statements, another of Basel’s parallel events, features solo shows by promising new artists and rising galleries in the art world.

This year, Art Unlimited is curated by Gianni Jetzer, the director of the Swiss Institute in New York.  An interview with him featuring commentary on the exhibit’s selection process and the projects that made it in can be found here.

Franz West’s contorted, neon pink installation resembling human innards drew crowds to Gagosian’s stand at Art Unlimited.  The sculpture, titled Gekröse (2011), which translates as “bowel,” is the largest of West’s repertoire and sold on the first day of its showing, according to Reuters.

Work by Gilbert And George

303 Gallery and Noero show Mike Nelson‘s “After Kerouac”

Mike Nelson’s work continued

Frith Street Gallery presents Raqs Media Collective

Director Annette Schönholzer at Art Unlimited

Another highlight of Art Unlimited, Rudolf Stingel’s “Untitled (Paula)” shows an anonymous photograph of Paula Cooper, the woman whose eponymous New York gallery exhibited the work.  According to Bloomberg,  the work sold to a private European institution for approximately $3 million.

Barbara Gladstone of Gladstone Gallery

A Walead Beshty piece

Ugo Rondinone, “Primitive” (2011)

Tom Burr “Room Four” (2012)

Tom Burr’s work continued

Tilton Gallery New York presents Njideka Akunyili

Sterling Ruby, “SP202” (2012)

A Michael Sailstorfer work

Robert Morris, “Untitled (Scatter Piece)” (1968-1969)

Richard Wentworth, “A Room Full of Lovers” (2012)

A Richard Jackson

Ricci Albenda “Open Universe (Indra)” (2011)

Pier Paolo Calzolari, “Untitled” (1970-1994)

Installation by Phyllida Barlow

Olivier Mosset, “Untitled” (2008)

Jimmie Durham, “Homage to Luis Bunuel” (2012)

Projection from Jeremy Deller‘s “Exodus”, a 3D film depicting the flight of millions of bats

In addition to the many installations and works featured, Art Unlimited is also presenting a number of performance work, both live and on film.  From Gagosian Gallery comes the premiere of “First Point”, a short film by Richard Phillips, a newcomer to Art Unlimited.  In this new work, Phillips moves away from his realist roots to debut a video piece on themes of surfer life, starring the popular culture icon Lindsay Lohan.

Hamish Fulton’s “Tibet Tibet” (2008-2009)

A performance at Art Unlimited

A Günter Umberg

Damián Ortega, “Architecture Without Architects” (2010)

Another view of Franz West’s installation

Wentrup Gallery shows Nevin Aladag

Galerie Balice Hertling exhibits Reto Pulfer

Raster gallery from Warszawa presents Slavs and Tatars

Slavs and Tatars’ work continued

Berlin’s Peres Project booth showcases Alex Israel

Lullin + Ferrari Zurich: Gitte Schäfer

Green Art Gallery from Dubai features Shadi Habib Allah

The Art Statements section is known primarily for helping emerging artists reach critical recognition in the art world.  Past participants have included such names as William Kentridgeand Takashi Murakami.

Two newcomers to the Statements scene are Middle Eastern galleries, Green Art Gallery and Gallery Isabelle van den Eynde.  Yasmin Atassi, director of Green Art Gallery, comments that “the exposure to international museums, curators and collectors that being in Art Statements would afford her gallery. ‘It’s like winning the Oscars!'” (NY Times)

New York’s Harris Lieberman shows work by Zak Prekop

Gandy Gallery in Bratislava presents Adam Vackar

Amsterdam’s Galerie Diana Stigter exhibits Amalia Pica

Amalia Pica’s work continued

Art and Language, “Portraits and a Dream” (2009)

Art and Language exhibit continued

Erik Freydenborg at Los Angeles gallery, Cherry and Martin’s booth

Untitled (2012) installation by Andreas Schulze

Andreas Schulze’s installation continued

Art Basel officially commences tomorrow, June 14, where Art Observed will remain on scene to provide up to date coverage on the fair and its showings.

–L. Marsova

Related Links:

Art Unlimited [Art Basel]
Art Statements [Art Basel]
Art Basel tests buyers’ instincts in time of crisis [Reuters]
Basel Fair Salutes the Rising Influence of Middle East Art Scene [NY Times]
Gagosian Gallery to present a single sculpture by Franz West at Art Basel’s Art Unlimited [Artdaily]
Art 43 Basel announces Art Statements sector: Twenty-seven solo shows by emerging artists [Artdaily]
From Snake-Wrangling to Toxic Water Lilies: Gianni Jetzer on Curating Art Basel’s Super-Sized Art Unlimited Projects [Artinfo]
Slideshow: The Art Unlimited Projects From Art 43 Basel [Artinfo]
Art 43 Basel: Art Unlimited / VIP Opening [VernissageTV]

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