One interesting part of the Art Basel 42 fair is its controversial choices for galleries to display. Three Berlin based galleries including, Eigen+Art were not chosen to be displayed at this year’s fair which may be in part due to the head of Eigen+Art’s behavior at prior shows and controversial opinions about certain Berlin galleries.
The committee which selected artists and galleries for Art Basel is composed of 6 members, 3 of which are actually from Berlin galleries. Part of the issue with Eigen+Art’s rejection is that it brings politics, collusion and status into a show which aims to bring the finest art for display. One of the other galleries not selected, Giti Nourbakhsch is suspected to be passed over because of their refusal to continue working on the organizational committee for Gallery Weekend in Berlin, which the 3 Basel members were also on the committee. There are claims that politics and collusion have occurred because the three galleries complaining are often seen as the most influential galleries in Berlin. Thornton describes Art Basel as displaying only the world’s best contemporary art. Many of these angered galleries would fall into this category. Eigen+Art’s head, Harry Lybke is responsible for bringing the New Leipzig School (modern German art movement) to the United States . Brad Pitt is even rumored to one of his clients.
The exclusion of Eigen+Art brings up new question because of the types of art it displays. The gallery focuses almost entirely on paintings from artists living in East Berlin before the Berlin Wall fell. It highlights art showing life under communist rule. As such, the gallery is a mix of both art and history from the East Berlin region. Excluding Eigen+Art is seen as ignoring a major part of the world’s history through art. 
Cornelia Parker's Painting within the Eigen+Art Gallery
The clash brings up some interesting issues within the art fair community. With a perceived trend of ultimate consumerism at many of the shows similar to Art Basel, is breaking the mold to feature new or different artists a good thing or a bad thing? Certainly galleries which push the art movements in their country, such as the New Leipzig should be celebrated. However, with the number of major art fairs in the hundreds how to choose galleries and artists is controversial in its own right. Being chosen for the Art Basel show is both an honor and a possible opportunity for sales volumes. At the “Costco” of art fairs, being selected to exhibit art can change the landscape of the art market and consumers’ preference. Limiting access for a style of art or country of origin among other factors could hugely affect popularity of art among collectors.
Should the committee move to include lesser known galleries in an effort to promote new artists and less branding throughout the industry?
One could absolutely see how the art market and art fairs can affect international markets and politics. The art community is both concerned for humanity and extremely powerful in terms of connections and wealth. In May of 2010, a display of North Korean art was shown at the MAK Museum in Vienna. The art showed how few freedoms the people of North Korea actually have. The expression of life and emotion in the undertone of the pieces causes controversy in the art world and the political sphere. 
(North Korean Art with Kim Jong il as a prominent feature)