PRESS RELEASE
BASEL | MAY | 13 | 2015
Unlimited: Presenting 74 ambitious and large-scale works spanning five decades
Unlimited, Art Basel’s unique platform for artworks that transcend the traditional art-fair stand, will this year present 74 projects from galleries participating in the show. Curated for the fourth consecutive year by Gianni Jetzer, curator-at-large at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington D.C., Unlimited will showcase a strong selection of works by renowned international artists including Ai Weiwei, Kenneth Anger, John M. Armleder, Ed Atkins, Kader Attia, Julius von Bismarck, Martin Boyce, Martin Creed, Olafur Eliasson, Hans-Peter Feldmann, Dan Flavin, Gilbert & George, John Gerrard, Shilpa Gupta, Jeppe Hein, Pierre Huyghe, Robert Irwin, Jannis Kounellis, Ryan McGinley, Bruce Nauman, Roman Ondák, Pedro Reyes, David Shrigley, Gary Simmons, Lorna Simpson, Sturtevant and Zhang Enli.
Since first introduced at Art Basel in 2000, Unlimited has become a key element of the show, providing galleries with an opportunity to showcase large-scale sculptures, video projections, installations, wall paintings, photographic series and performance art which could not be exhibited in a gallery booth.
Highlights of Unlimited will include Ai Weiwei’s ‘Stacked’ (2012), created out of 760 symbolic Forever Bicycles, the most widely used bicycles in China, presented by Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Boissy-le-Châtel). Presented by Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac (Paris, Salzburg), Sturtevant’s ‘Gonzalez-Torres Untitled (Blue Placebo)’ (2004) is a repetition of the most iconic conceptual work by the Cuban-born American artist who died of AIDS in 1996. Lisson Gallery (London, Milan, New York, Singapore) will present Pedro Reyes’ ‘Disarm (Mechanized) ll’ (2014), part of his ambitious international project in which confiscated firearms are used to fabricate musical instruments. Kader Attia’s large-scale installation ‘Arab Spring’ (2014), presented by Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Boissy-le-Châtel), addresses the failure of the revolution that swept across the Middle East in early 2011. The idea behind the work was triggered by the plunder of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Attia’s installation employs those same showcases that were smashed during the attack, which the museum has kept on display as an act of remembrance. Whenever the work is shown, the artist reenacts the revolts by destroying the display cases with stones, again and again. The work reflects on how riots are motivated by the utopian revolutionary idea to improve the world through change. Presented by Luciana Brito Galeria (São Paulo), Héctor Zamora’s installation of eight suspended parachutes ‘OG-107 Scenery’ (2012) challenges the limits of gravity, commenting on political structures. As simple as walking may seem to most of us, for the characters in Martin Creed‘s video ‘Work No. 1701’ (2013), presented by Gavin Brown’s enterprise (New York, Los Angeles) and Hauser & Wirth (Zurich, New York, London), it is an concerted effort; their gaits and rhythms becoming conspicuous parts of their personality. Stephen Friedman Gallery (London) will show David Shrigley’s participatory work ‘Life Model’ (2012) in which a three-meter high sculpture will be displayed in a traditional life class drawing room, with visitors invited to draw what they see. Tanya Bonakdar Gallery (New York) will present Olafur Eliasson’s ‘Your space embracer’ (2004), a historically significant work in his practice using light as both tool and subject. John Gerrard’s ‘Solar Reserve (Tonopah, Nevada) 2014’ (2014), presented by Thomas Dane Gallery (London), is a computer simulation of a power plant surrounded by 10,000 mirrors which adjust themselves in real time with the weather.
Julius von Bismarck’s ‘Egocentric system’ (2015), presented by Marlborough Fine Art (London, New York, Madrid, Barcelona, Monaco), is a live performance by the artist on a rotating paraboloid, spanning the entirety of the show. Also on a stage, Gary Simmons' ‘Recapturing Memories of the Black Ark‘ (2014), presented jointly by Simon Lee Gallery (London, Hong Kong, New York), Metro Pictures (New York), Anthony Meier Fine Arts (San Francisco) and Regen Projects (Los Angeles), is a sculptural installation intended for live music performances. Inspired by Brazilian indigenous traditions OPAVIVARÁ!’s ‘Formosa Decelerator’ (2014), presented by A Gentil Carioca (Rio de Janeiro), is an interactive installation where visitors can rest in hammocks and create their own tea blends.
Wu Tsang’s video installation ‘DAMELO TODO // ODOT OLEMAD’ (2010-2011/2014) combines fiction with documentary to address the subject of ’safe spaces.’ The film is based on a short story by Raquel Gutierrez and on Tsang’s own experiences. The work will be presented by Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi (Berlin). Presented by Long March Space (Beijing), Liu Wei’s ‘The East No. 5’ (2015) is a mural-sized oil painting of vertical and horizontal lines, his largest painting to date. Presented by Hauser & Wirth (Zurich, New York, London) and ShanghART Gallery (Shanghai, Beijing, Singapore), Zhang Enli’s ‘Space Painting’ (2014) is created out of 205 cardboard boxes, the interior of which is painted by the artist.
Historical works shown within Unlimited will include Dadamaino’s ‘Il movimento delle cose’ (1993), presented by Tornabuoni Art (Paris, Florence, Milan, Forte dei Marmi, Portofino), a rare installation of her monumental polyester work. David Zwirner (New York, London) will present 'European Couples' (1966-1971) by Dan Flavin. Comprising nine works, the installation, dedicated to European friends and colleagues who influenced Flavin, demonstrates the artist's interest in serial and permutational configurations. Presented together, they produce an immersive, site-specific environment of light and color. Fergus McCaffrey (New York, Saint Barthelemy) will present ‘An Extended Gray Scale’ (1973), which provides an insight in Marcia Hafif’s investigation into minimalist painting beginning with a white canvas and ending with a completely black one. Presented by Sprüth Magers Berlin London (Berlin, London), Kenneth Anger’s most iconic film ‘Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome’ (1954-2014) will be screened in its most recent re-edited version. Never shown publically before as a whole, Emilio Vedova’s ‘…in continuum’ (1987-88), presented by Galleria dello Scudo (Verona), is a group of 109 works on canvas of various sizes placed to invade the architectural space. Peter Freeman, Inc. (New York, Paris), Galerie Jocelyn Wolff (Paris) and Skopia P.-H. Jaccaud (Geneva) will jointly present the largest ‘Wallformation Gelbmodellierung’ (1980-1981) by Franz Erhard Walther. Not having been displayed since 1989, the work can be seen as an image, a sculpture or an action space all at the same time. It will be shown together with historical photos of the artist’s original activation. Presented by Galerie Thomas Zander (Cologne) ‘Office at Night’ (1986) is one of Victor Burgin’s seminal and historical pieces which deconstructs Edward Hopper’s famous painting of the same name. Gianni Colombo’s experiential ‘Architettura cacogoniometrica. Ambiente’ (1984), presented by A arte Invernizzi (Milan), is made of PVC columns and redefined the environmental and the spatial idea of art at the time.
A limited-edition catalog, published by Hatje Cantz Publishers, accompanies the exhibition and includes descriptive texts and images about each artwork. The catalog is for sale at the show as well as in bookshops. Cost: CHF 40.
Full list of artists and projects presented in Unlimited:
Ai Weiwei, Galleria Continua
Kenneth Anger, Sprüth Magers Berlin London
John M. Armleder, Massimo De Carlo
Ed Atkins, Cabinet
Kader Attia, Galleria Continua
Darren Bader, Andrew Kreps Gallery, Sadie Coles HQ, Galleria Franco Noero, Blum & Poe
Martin Boyce, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, The Modern Institute
Joe Bradley, Gavin Brown's enterprise, Galerie Eva Presenhuber
Victor Burgin, Galerie Thomas Zander
Mircea Cantor, Magazzino
Gianni Colombo, A arte Invernizzi
Martin Creed, Gavin Brown's enterprise, Hauser & Wirth
Dadamaino, Tornabuoni Art
Olafur Eliasson, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
Sam Falls, Galerie Eva Presenhuber, Galleria Franco Noero, Hannah Hoffman Gallery
Hans-Peter Feldmann, Galleria Massimo Minini, Mehdi Chouakri
Spencer Finch, James Cohan Gallery, Lisson Gallery, Galerie Nordenhake
Dan Flavin, David Zwirner
Anna Gaskell, Galerie Gisela Capitain
John Gerrard, Thomas Dane Gallery
Gilbert & George, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac
Shilpa Gupta, Galleria Continua
Marcia Hafif, Fergus McCaffrey
Jeppe Hein, Galerie König, Berlin, 303 Gallery, Galleri Nicolai Wallner
Diango Hernández, Marlborough Fine Art, Alexander and Bonin, Nicolas Krupp,
Galerie Barbara Thumm
Federico Herrero, Sies + Höke, Galeria Luisa Strina, Proyectos Monclova
Sheila Hicks, galerie frank elbaz, Sikkema Jenkins & Co.
Pierre Huyghe, Hauser & Wirth
Robert Irwin, White Cube, Pace
William E. Jones, David Kordansky Gallery
Sanya Kantarovsky, Casey Kaplan, Stuart Shave / Modern Art
Jacob Kassay, 303 Gallery, Art : Concept, Xavier Hufkens
Konrad Klapheck, Galerie Lelong
John Knight, Greene Naftali Gallery, Cabinet, Galerie Neu
Jannis Kounellis, Tornabuoni Art
Jim Lambie, The Modern Institute, Sadie Coles HQ, Galleria Franco Noero, Anton Kern Gallery
Leigh Ledare, Mitchell-Innes & Nash
Tony Lewis, Massimo De Carlo
Liu Chuang, Salon 94
Liu Wei, Long March Space
Maha Malluh, Galerie Krinzinger
Helen Marten, Sadie Coles HQ, Greene Naftali Gallery, Galerie König, Berlin
Ryan McGinley, team (gallery, inc.)
Sarah Morris, Petzel Gallery, White Cube, Air de Paris
Bruce Nauman, Konrad Fischer Galerie
Rivane Neuenschwander, Stephen Friedman Gallery, Galeria Fortes Vilaça,
Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
Olaf Nicolai, Galerie Eigen + Art
Melik Ohanian, Galerie Chantal Crousel
Roman Ondák, kurimanzutto
OPAVIVARÁ!, A Gentil Carioca
Oliver Payne, Gavin Brown's enterprise, Herald St
Michail Pirgelis, Sprüth Magers Berlin London
Elizabeth Price, MOT International
Tal R, Cheim & Read, Contemporary Fine Arts, Victoria Miro
Pedro Reyes, Lisson Gallery
Gregor Schneider, Galerie Löhrl
Grace Schwindt, Zeno X Gallery
Wael Shawky, Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Lisson Gallery
David Shrigley, Stephen Friedman Gallery
Gary Simmons, Simon Lee Gallery, Metro Pictures, Anthony Meier Fine Arts, Regen Projects
Lorna Simpson, Salon 94, Galerie Nathalie Obadia
Jesús Rafael Soto, Galerie Perrotin
Haim Steinbach, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery
Sturtevant, Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac
Pascale Marthine Tayou, Galleria Continua
Wu Tsang, Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi
Günther Uecker, Dominique Lévy Gallery
Emilio Vedova, Galleria dello Scudo
Julius von Bismarck, Marlborough Fine Art
Franz Erhard Walther, Peter Freeman, Inc., Galerie Jocelyn Wolff, Skopia P.-H. Jaccaud
Franz West, David Zwirner
Héctor Zamora, Luciana Brito Galeria
Zhang Enli, ShanghART Gallery, Hauser & Wirth
Jakub Julian Ziółkowski, Foksal Gallery Foundation, Hauser & Wirth
For further information, please see artbasel.com/basel/unlimited
About Art Basel
Art Basel stages the world's premier art shows for Modern and contemporary works, sited in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. Defined by its host city and region, each show is unique, which is reflected in its participating galleries, artworks presented, and the content of parallel programming produced in collaboration with local institutions for each edition. In addition to ambitious stands featuring leading galleries from around the world, each show's singular exhibition sectors spotlight the latest developments in the visual arts, offering visitors new ideas, new inspiration and new contacts in the art world.
Partners
UBS, global Lead Partner of Art Basel, has supported the organization for more than 20 years. As Art Basel’s global network has expanded, so too has UBS’s commitment and lead partnership, which includes all three shows in Basel, Miami Beach and Hong Kong. In addition to its support of Art Basel, UBS has a long and substantial record of engagement in contemporary art: as a holder of one of the world’s most distinguished corporate art collections, as an active partner in global contemporary art projects such as the Guggenheim UBS MAP Global Art Initiative, and as a source of information and insights through the UBS Art Competence Center, UBS Arts Forum and its new contemporary art news-focused app, 'Planet Art'.
Associate Partners Davidoff, the prestigious Swiss cigar brand, Audemars Piguet, the independent high-end watch manufacturer, and NetJets, the world leader in private aviation, support Art Basel across its three shows. Art Basel's Media Partners are The Financial Times and the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, and the VIP car service at the show is by BMW. Long-standing partner AXA ART, the international art insurance specialist, provides VIP guided tours at all shows. For further information on Art Basel's partners, please visit artbasel.com/partners.
Important Dates for Media
Unlimited Opening
Monday, June 15, 2015, 4pm – 7pm (by invitation only)
Art Basel Private View
Tuesday, June 16, 2015, 11am to 8pm (by invitation only)
Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 11am to 3pm (by invitation only)
Art Basel Vernissage
Wednesday, June 17, 2015, 3pm to 8pm (by invitation only)
Art Basel Public Days
Thursday, June 18, 2015, 11am to 7pm
Friday, June 19, 2015, 11am to 7pm
Saturday, June 20, 2015, 11am to 7pm
Sunday, June 21, 2015, 11am to 7pm
Press Contacts
Art Basel, Dorothee Dines
Tel. +41 58 206 27 06, press@artbasel.com
PR Representatives for North America, South America and the Middle East
FITZ & CO, Katrina Weber Ashour
Tel. +1 212 627 1455 ext. 1653, katrina@fitzandco.com
To download a PDF of the release click here.
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