For more than 40 years, Art Basel has been the meeting point for art enthusiasts around the world. As the premier international art event that brings together the world’s most renowned galleries, artists and art collectors, each year’s event presents the ongoing journey and evolution of artwork from the 20th and 21st centuries.
2017’s show will be held over four days from 15 – 18 June, where artwork from 291 galleries around the world will be showcased. The fair will feature eight categories including paintings, sculptures, installations, film and videos, multiples, prints, photography, and live performances. All modern and contemporary masters such as Picasso, Miró, Klee, Warhol and Jeff Koons to the newest generation, are represented.
With an average of 90,000 visitors descending into Basel for this major event each year, the city is gearing up to yet again welcome art lovers this summer.
While this medieval city is well-known for its art and contemporary architecture, first time visitors planning their visit should know that there’s much more to Basel than art.
Located on the River Rhine and bordering France and Germany, Basel is an important transport hub, economic powerhouse and a centre for research and education, where its population of 198,000 inhabitants enjoy a very high quality of life. The city is also home to 40 museums, the highest concentration of museums in the country.
When visiting, a cruise along the Rhine is highly recommended as it will reveal the charms of the city’s Old Town, the Basel cathedral and the ancient city walls near the St. Alban valley. This could then be followed by a stroll around the Old Town area to get acquainted with the local ways of life and customs around the historic large market square with its richly decorated red sandstone town hall.
This year, the city also celebrates the 20th anniversary of its top art museum, the Fondation Beyeler, where exclusive exhibitions will be held for the entire year – Monet from now until 28 May 2017, Wolfgang Tillmans from 28 May – 1 October 2017, and Paul Klee from 1 October 2017 – 21 January 2018.
Should the weather be conducive, a dip or swim along the river is one of the most popular and best ways to take in the city’s architectural wonders and life by the river.
A host of experiences await during the exciting month of Art Basel, so to feast your eyes and imagination this summer with all things art, design and culture, visit myswitzerland.com/basel and click here for weekend offers.
