Basel
Pioneering women artists
In 1971, the art historian Linda Nochlin famously posed the question: ‘Why have there been no great women artists?’ It was a feminist rallying cry which shook up the art establishment. Fast forward to the present, and forgotten women artists are finally coming to the fore. While they are still often labeled as wives, friends or muses of major male artists, women are finally being recognized as pioneers in their own right. Institutions and galleries are no longer solely focused on men who have dominated art history and they are beginning to tell the untold stories of their female counterparts. In this tour, we delve into the practices of seven game-changing women artists.
From Tbilisi to Bogotá via Cairo: Voices from across the globe
This tour spotlights a wave of artists from across the globe. Encompassing a diverse range of viewpoints, it includes figures who once sat on the margins of the art world but have now moved to its center. Cape Town-based artist-activist Kemang Wa Lehulere’s poignant installation – composed of forlorn ceramic dogs and spools of wool emerging from a suitcase and draped onto music stands – raises questions about the aftermath of apartheid, while Kosovarian artist Brilant Milazimi’s paintings of grotesque grinning figures with tentacular arms delve into the difficulties of life in his native country. Seen together, the works offer a fascinating glimpse into the social, political, and cultural realities of multiple regions ranging from the Middle East to South America.
Fresh Perspectives at Art Basel
This tour focuses on fresh voices who are pushing to the fore the urgent issues of our times, from a displaced Afghani artist to a Canadian disability rights advocate. Their work explores themes including the natural world, gender, identity, and discrimination. Lebanese artist Dala Nasser, for instance, uses blackberries and foliage from her ancestral land to make marks on found pieces of silk; Congolese-Norwegian artist Sandra Mujinga works with used leather jackets to create an ominous sci-fi creature; while the New York-based Moroccan artist Meriem Bennani repurposes a salad spinner to create an absurdly comic kinetic sculpture. Seen as a whole, this tour champions diversity and inclusivity – much needed in today’s art world.
Photography Highlights
In today’s digital era, the medium of photography is more relevant than ever. While it was originally seen as an image recorder and replicator of reality, photography has since evolved into a dynamic art form with a much broader definition. This tour showcases seminal figures from the rich history of the medium including the famed American Surrealist Man Ray and German-born fashion photographer Helmut Newton, as well as overlooked names such as the Italian-born photographer Tina Modotti, who combined art with activism in the 1920s. It also celebrates contemporary names such as Polish photographer Joanna Piotrowska, whose moody black-and-white prints are reimagining the genre of portraiture.
