Getting Political At Art Basel 2024
Is It Legal To Transport Art By Train?
It has already been a week since Art Basel in Switzerland, and I'm still captivated by its artistic highlights. While the art fair inspires with innovative art, the event also reveals a mixed experience where some people treat art purely as a tradable commodity, overshadowing artistic passion with investment strategies.
The internet art influencer Jerry Gogosian always mocks the art world with a dry and extremely sarcastic gaze; also during Art Basel. Here are a few of my favourite memes she posted recently:
But it must be said, Art Basel showcases quality art. AND there's also art that is less commercially oriented. Take Parcours, for example, where art installations are spread throughout the city of Basel, within walking distance of the fair and are free to visit.
One particular work that deeply resonated with me was Body Promise, 2024 by Mandy El-Sayegh (b. 1985, Malaysia, lives and works in London, United Kingdom).
Mandy El-Sayegh, Body Promise, 2024
Body Promise is a profound reflection on the recent escalation of violence between Israel and Palestine, specifically highlighting the moment when Hamas initiated attacks. El-Sayegh's installation incorporates large-scale paintings and layered printed materials on walls and floors, creating an immersive environment.
The red elements in her work (in my opinion) can be interpreted as symbolizing the bloodshed and violence occurring in the region.
Through Body Promise, Mandy El-Sayegh navigates the complex and painful narratives surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, using art as a medium to express the urgency and gravity of the ongoing situation.
As I walked through the space, I felt my shoes sticking to the red papers, as if I was stepping into the sticky blood and walking on top of all the people who have lost their lives…
Is it legal to transport an artwork by train?
I bought a stunning piece at Art Basel for a client, and it's made its way with me from Switzerland to Belgium. I also heard a juicy story from the Belgian art scene involving some pieces that took a trip from Brussels to Paris… Curious to find out? Become a paid subscriber and find out the secrets of the art world ;) !
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See you next week
Emily xx
