Dec 5, 2024 - Things to Do
We took a sneak peak at Art Basel Miami Beach before it opens
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“Divinity Piano Forte” by Charlemagne Palestine at Art Basel. Photo: Sommer Brugal/Axios
It may seem like Art Basel has been going on for days already, with gallery events, parties and openings popping up throughout the week.
- But the official fair at the Miami Beach Convention Center opens to the public tomorrow and I got a sneak peak at what awaits.
If you go: The fair is massive, with more than 500,000 square feet of exhibition space featuring 286 galleries from 38 countries and territories, and I barely scratched the surface.
How I did it: I stuck to the outer perimeter during my almost two hours there, but snuck in a few tangents, too.
- I took a wrong turn or two and saw a few galleries twice. Definitely take a map with you.
Here's a few pieces that caught my eye.
"Pathway" by Zhu Jinshi
- It'll be hard to miss this Bejing-based artist's large-scale installation.
- The structure, made of Xuan paper on steel frames, is a commentary on the current fractured state of the world, per the description.
"Divinity Piano Forte" by Charlemagne Palestine
- Palestine, whose stuffed animal-covered piano is featured, is an American visual artist and musician based in Brussels.
- He is one of the most experimental avant garde musicians, per a spokesperson at the fair, and will be performing today at the fair at 6pm for those who can attend.
"Wild Flowers, Augustus" by Iván Argote
- Presented by Albarrán Bourdais, a Madrid-based art gallery, the solo presentation features multiple bronze sculptures designed to replicate the body parts of Roman Emperor Agustus.
- The varying sculptures are used as flower pots for native and exotic species, per the fair.
"Untitled" by Yoshitomo Nara
- Nara is a Japanese artist in his 60s.
- Among the pieces displayed is a large sculpture, with a smiling face.