Art has accompanied humanity since the beginning, as shown by the cave paintings in different caves around the world. Each culture has left a mark and its evidence is in paintings, sculptures, architectural works, literature, etc. The historical figures were concerned with leaving their mark through portraits, the institutions in great works such as the Vatican, the paintings reflect the uncertainty during the first decades of the twentieth century … and now it is considered a masterpiece to stick a banana to the wall as happened at Art Basel Miami 2019.
Of course the work generated controversy and was one of the most commented in that edition. Many see the work as “a symbol of world trade, a double meaning, as well as a classic device for humor,” according to Emmanuel Perrotin, owner of the gallery where the artist’s work is sold. Others, such as the artist Antonio García Villarán define it as hamparte or the art of not having talent and selling at astronomical prices.
But apart from the controversies, one of the reasons for the media coverage is that the work was presented at Art Basel Miami, focused on contemporary art. Art fairs are not new, every major city has one like Madrid with Arco, New York with NADA, Buenos Aires with Arteba, Santiago de Chile with Chaco… They are an excellent showcase for artists, buyers, connoisseurs, people who want to learn or simply lovers of beauty.
Among the thousands of fairs that exist in the world, Art Basel is an outstanding case. It was created in the seventies by Ernst Beyeler, Trudl Bruckner and Balz Hilt in Switzerland with the aim of promoting art. From the beginning it was a success with more than 16,000 spectators, 90 participating galleries and 30 publications from ten different countries. Since its birth the fair began to grow and consolidate within the world panorama of art.
The fair, attentive to the milestones in the history of art, in the eighties introduced five exhibitions of artistic photography commemorating the one hundred and fifty years of its invention. The goal was to present the full story, as well as position itself as one of the most important platforms for fine art photography. Since 1990 there is a selection of art cinema.
The new millennium brought for Art Basel diversification. First, all existing artistic media are allowed and, second, several cities are introduced starting with Miami in 2000, Hong Kong in 2010 and Buenos Aires in 2016.
Before the Fair, Miami was not on the art map. Now, more than twenty years after the inauguration, it is a world-class destination. All kinds of galleries from five continents are presented, passing through consecrated masters to new artists looking for their own voice through painting, sculpture, photography, performance or films.
Art Basel offers several activities to get to know the world art scene in depth. The talks they offer with characters from the world art scene are very famous, as well as the exhibitions of works and performance. It is the perfect place for professional collectors, art aficionados and artists.
Another predictable consequence was the creation of more art fairs. The main ones are:
1. Design Miami: is the official sister of Art Basel. Promote collectibles such as furniture, lighting and furniture. It is located in Miami Beach.
2. Legumes: focused on contemporary art
3. Reach: Your niche is the emerging contemporary art market. It lasts six days and brings exhibitions from twenty-five different countries, sixty cities around 60,000 visits.
4. Intitulado: if you want to know the avant-garde of art and the most innovative, this is your place.
5. Art Miami: rivals Art Basel in importance. It is one of the largest and showcases leading contemporary artists.
6. Context: Focuses on young galleries and artists not so well known. Located in a South Beach hotel.
7. Water: emerging and/or mid-career talents are presented. Also in South Beach.
8. Surface: its objective is to make Latin American art known. Located in Wynwood.
9. Spectrum: its great attraction is the possibility of the public to interact with the works. Includes Art Labs, Launch Pad, Spotlight and conferences.
This year, the fair will be held between the second of December until Saturday the fourth. It will be held at the Miami Beach Convention Center, located at 1901 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139.
Finally, not all the works are like those of the banana of 2019, which by the way one of the attendees, David Datuna, decided to eat it. He did not have to pay the USD 120,000 that the work was worth “since he did not destroy the piece of art, he only ate the banana. The piece of art is not about a specific food, the piece of art is about the idea of the concept” according to Lucien Terras, spokesman for the gallery.
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