The 42nd edition of Art Basel closed on Sunday, June 19, 2011. This year, the annual gathering of the cream of the international art world attracted more than 65,000 artists, collectors, curators, and art lovers from around the globe. T was the highest record of attendance to date. The participating galleries, art lovers critics and journalists were unanimous in pronouncing it a superb year for the quality throughout the exhibition. Collectors from all over the globe were rewarded in their choice of hi-quality works and magnificent booth presentations with strong sales throughout the week, across all levels of the market.
At Art 42 Basel, more than 300 galleries from 35 countries exhibited works by over 2,500 artists. Many stands featured thematic exhibitions and one-person shows while many galleries presented enormous installations and sculptures. Paintings, works on paper, and photography continued to be represented by the choice of strong and valuable works. The overwhelming majority of exhibitors reported excellent results and made valuable new contacts for the future evolution of their businesses.
One specific show within the convention, titled Art Unlimited and launched in 2000, is Art Basel's pioneering exhibition platform for projects that transcend the classical art-show stand. The presentation includes video projections, large-scale installations, massive sculptures and live performances. Selected by the Art Basel Committee, Art Unlimited is curated by New York based curator Gianni Jetzer.
Art Unlimited also spotlighted 62 ambitious works and drew an enormous audience surpassing previous years. Many of the exhibited pieces were created especially for Art 42 Basel. Highlights included major works by legendary artists Carl Andre, John Baldessari, Daniel Buren, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Dan Flavin, Anish Kapoor, Robert Rauschenberg, Rirkrit Tiravanija and Cerith Wyn Evans, joined by pieces from younger and emerging stars. (http://www.artbasel.com/ca/n/elj/).
I was particularly interested in researching more about Dan Falvin, as I have seen his work at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
Dan Flavin’s installation at ART UNLIMITED called Untitled to Barry, Mike, Chuck and Leonardo (1972-1975), used Yellow and Pink Fluorescent light in a corridor accessible to viewers from either side. In 1972 Dan Flavin first began developing his barred corridors as specially constructed hallways bisected by a barrier of lights. The corridors allowed the artist to extend his experiment by intermingling a contrasting background and foreground colors in a contained environment. Ultimately this square rectangular configuration of lights also allowed Flavin to refer to the picture plane of painting and the idea of perspective. Untitled (to Barry, Mike, Chuck and Leonard) from 1972 - 1975, is an eight-by-eight foot installation of paired pink and yellow light fixtures installed back to back. This important and unique work is one of only five made by Flavin during his lifetime.
Dan Flavin's "Untitled to Barry, Mike, Chuck and Leonardo" (1972-1975) in Hall 1 at the 42nd Art Basel in 2011.
Although Flavin passed away in 1996, his fame and notoriety as a contemporary American minimalist is widely recognized today. For more than three decades, Flavin vigorously pursued the artistic possibilities of fluorescent light. The artist radically limited his materials to commercially available fluorescent tubing in standard sizes, shapes, and colors, extracting banal hardware from its utilitarian context and inserting it into the world of high art. The resulting body of work at once possesses a straightforward simplicity and a deep sophistication. Many of Flavin’s works have been sold at auction. In 2004, Flavin's work Untitled ("monument" for V. Tatlin)' (1964--1965) was sold for $735,500 at Christie’s, New York.
Dan Flavin's is represented in New York by David Zwirner as agent Zwirner has managed Flavin’s entire estate since 2010.
Discussing his experience at Art 42 Basel, David Zwirner said: 'Collector confidence was definitely back this year, and there was a lot of positive energy all around. In addition to seeing our dedicated clients from Europe, we were excited to see that a number of the new collectors we met during recent travels to Asia also made their way to Basel. And we were especially grateful that our presentations at Art Unlimited that were so enthusiastically received.'
This is one of my favourite works by Dan Flavin "Untitled to Piet Mondrian" (1985). Flavin has cited the Dutch painter as one of his largest influences.