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Dystopia, BLM themes emerge at Switzerland’s Art Basel fair

Dystopia and Black Lives Matter feature prominently at Art Basel, the world's top contemporary art fair, which throws open its doors to the public this weekend.

Dystopia, BLM themes emerge at Switzerland's Art Basel fair
Visitors pass "This is How We Play Together" (2021), a piece by artist duo Elmgreen and Dragset at Art Basel on 22nd September 2021. picture alliance/dpa/KEYSTONE | Georgios Kefalas

The giant annual fair in the Swiss city of Basel is above all a commercial event, where artists and galleries come to meet wealthy collectors.

But the fair is also very popular with art lovers who come for the simple pleasure of browsing the works on show. Some 93,000 visitors came through the doors during the 2019 edition, with last year’s event having been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Art Basel exhibits major works every year in a section where paintings, sculptures and installations are grouped together for sale to museums and large collections.

Among the 2021 highlights are a canvas by the Guyanese-British artist Frank Bowling, a large painting by Britain’s David Hockney or Swiss artist Urs Fischer’s house made out of bread.

But after several editions dominated by political works focused on Donald Trump’s US presidency, then feminist works during the “Me Too” movement, the 62 major works presented this year reflect on the upheavals that shook the world during the pandemic.

‘Cabinet of curiosities’ 
The US artist Lari Pittman is presenting a vast set of closely juxtaposed paintings intended as a kind of snapshot of a fallen Western civilisation.

“It’s a cabinet of curiosities,” the Californian told AFP, but with objects amassed by a collector “in the distant future”, finding needles and antidepressants, a motorway sign warning drivers to speed up due to the risk of cannibalism, and stained glass windows for an underground bunker.

The work should have been exhibited before the pandemic, but Pittman nonetheless believes it has its place in this edition.

“It’s a bit dark, but the issues I point out are constant in human history,” he said.

“We are coming out of an incredibly dystopic period globally, and certainly in America with a dystopic political situation in the last four years.”

On the theme of juxtaposition, the US artist Carrie Mae Weems is presenting a series of canvases of varying sizes entitled “Repeating The Obvious”.

They all contain the same image: the blurred face of a young African-American, illustrating those who died at the hands of the police and, by dint of repetition, end up becoming faceless victims.

Outside the exhibition hall, the Danish-Norwegian artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset placed “The Outsiders” — a work featuring an old Mercedes car with Russian registration plates, with two men sleeping inside, curled up against each other.

The two wax mannequins, with lifelike features, represent two workers who have come to set up the fair and do “all the hard, heavy work that we don’t see”, Michael Elmgreen told AFP.

Having driven from Moscow, they sleep in their car because they cannot afford a hotel room.

“It’s also a work about an intimacy between these two young men. It has Russian number plates. It’s very difficult to show that intimacy openly in Moscow today. So they are happy to be here in Basel where they can lie in the way they want.”

Given the pandemic-related travel constraints, Art Basel has planned several online events, including virtual walks through the fair.

Art Basel was open for private viewings from Monday to Thursday, aimed at wealthy buyers, before opening to the public from Friday to Sunday.

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WHAT'S ON IN SWITZERLAND

Six unmissable events in Switzerland in April 2024

From Zermatt's unplugged music festival to Swiss beer in Solothurn, there are plenty of events in Switzerland to keep you entertained this April.

Six unmissable events in Switzerland in April 2024

Tulip Festival 

Morges (Lake Geneva), March 29th-May 12th

OK so this festival does start in March but it runs through until May 12th – and April might be the best time to visit. 

The Fête de la Tulipe or Tulip Festival is an annual event held in the city of Morges every year featuring more than 140,000 flowers and around 350 varieties of tulips which you can admire while wandering around. 

This year’s theme is ‘Countries of the World’. The special programme features lots of events, including music and dance, a children’s theatre on Wednesday April 3rd plus guided tours. 

Zermatt Unplugged

Zermatt, Valais, April 9th-13th

This mountain resort may be known for winter sports, but it’s also worth visiting at other times of the year. 

And this music festival, featuring pared-back performances, is a great time to sample Zermatt’s vibrant scene in spring. 

Taking place from April 9th to 13th, you can watch artists, bands and DJs such as Ronny Scott’s All Stars and Jake the Rapper perform next to the unique mountain scenery – including the iconic Matterhorn. 

This year, the festival will showcase 120 concerts across 17 stages spread throughout the village and across the surrounding slopes.

READ ALSO: Eight music festivals in Switzerland you can’t miss this year

Sechseläuten

Zurich, starting April 12th

This four-day festival, which translates to the ‘the six o’clock ringing of the bells’, starts on Friday April 12th, leading up to the climax on Monday April 15th.

The highlight is the procession of the guilds to Sechseläutenplatz with the giant ‘Böögg’ (a snowman effigy that symbolises winter) burning at 6pm on Monday.

While not a public holiday, many businesses, offices, and banks close on Monday so that Zurich residents can celebrate this ancient spring festival.

READ ALSOHere’s why people in Zurich burn a huge snowman every April

International Exhibition of Inventions 

Geneva, April 17th-April 21st

If you’re looking to be inspired or you are in the world of innovative business, the International Exhibition of Inventions might just be the place for you. 

Featuring creations from 40 countries all over the world, this year there will be 1,000 new inventions and products by 800 exhibitors.

More than 30,000 visitors attend this event every year, including hundreds of journalists and entrepreneurs.

It’s taking place at the Grand Saconnex,Palexpo Halle 5 in Geneva and, at the same time, a Climate Fair will be held in the same venue. 

Solothurner Biertage

Solothurn, April 25th-27th

Neighbouring Germany is better known for beer, but that doesn’t mean that beer in Switzerland doesn’t taste great!

That’s right, beer fans should get down to Solothurn Beer Days festival to sample the good stuff. 

More than 50 Swiss breweries will come together for the event to present over 200 varieties of craft beer. 

Make sure you sample some of the great food on offer – including Swiss favourite raclette – to soak up the alcohol. 

A mug of beer on a beer garden table.

A mug of beer on a beer garden table. Photo: Engin Akyurt/Pexels

Food Truck Festival 

Locarno, Ticino, April 26th-28th

Thanks to its location in Europe and diverse population, Switzerland is a great spot for delicious food.

And now there’s a place to sample some of it – you’ll find authentic snacks and delicacies at this food fest in Locarno.

Featuring trucks, caravans and ape cars coming from the north of the Alps as well as Italy, local ingredients are used for a variety of mouthwatering dishes and drinks. 

Make sure you’re hungry when you head to this event, which is free to enter and takes place on the Piazza Grande. 

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