Art Basel, Miami Beach, opens in November, marking the fourth year that Nicholas Baume has directed and curated the event. The theme for this instalment is Ground Control, which frames this year鈥檚 selection: 20 site-specific works from emerging and established artists alike, originating from 10 countries. The event transforms Miami Beach鈥檚 Collins Park into an original outdoor exhibition space, including significant work from Magdalena Abakanowicz, David Adamo, Jean-Marie Appriou, Eric Baudart, Huma Bhabha, Yoan Capote, Claudia Comte, Mat铆as Duville.
Inspired by David Bowie, the theme examines the ways in which artists invent and imagine new kinds of space, of a physical, social and psychic nature. In a literal interpretation of the exhibition鈥檚 theme, each piece invites viewers into new relationships with familiar surroundings and reframes Collins Park into a site of contemporary art and transformational experiences. Several of the works challenge visitor鈥檚 preconceptions about everyday items, repurposing them in unfamiliar ways. Eric Baudart鈥檚 础迟尘辞蝉辫丑猫谤别 features a clear tank filled with yellow peanut oil, in which a fan slowly turns, whilst David Adamo presents a series of miscellaneous objects in small bronze sculptures, immortalising items such as flip flops, fruits and styrofoam cups.
These reconfigured relationships between both materials and subject, the familiar and the strange, are designed to overwhelm the viewer through their scale and their thought-provoking nature.
The opening night of the exhibition focuses on Baume鈥檚 all encompassing theme. An interactive performance from Davide Balula features the distribution of a beverage infused with garlic, Naama Tsabar will stage a new iteration of her ongoing Composition series. The series of events are co-ordinated to create an intense musical sound field, as produced by the simultaneous actions of a sculptural-live field of musicians and artists.
Art Basel, Miami Beach, at聽Collins Park runs until聽4 December, with a selection of the artworks remaining until 15 March.
For more contemporary art and culture, follow us @Aestheticamag
Credits
- Cory Arcangel, Mig 29 Soviet Fighter Plane and Clouds听(2016)
