ART-PRESENTATION: LISTE Special Guests 2016

00Every year a variety of institutions enrich LISTE Art Fair as special guests. Among these guests is always a Swiss institution demonstrating special commitment to emerging art. This year special guest is Kunsthalle Zurich. As in past years there are the HeK (House of Electronic Arts), the Kaskadenkondensator – Space for Contemporary Art and Room Escape Basel.

By Efi Michalarou
Photo: LISTE Art Fair 2016 Archive

SONY DSCHeK (House for Electronic Arts, Basel) HeK has invited the Swiss artist duo, Christoph Wachter & Mathias Jud to present “Capital Of The World. Philosophies of life and tools of reflexion”.  The artists explore the ways the digital medium of communication register as personal outlet and influence our perceptions. The designation Capital Of The World was coined by a refugee. He wishes for a capital city of the world, in which all people could find a common homeland. Simultaneously, the capital of the world is meant as a wealth which could grow with a sense of community and through human exchange.   In their installation the artist build a mesh network of self-made antennas, whose Internet one can use for independent communication. Capital Of The World stands as an open, independent communication network available to all. With their intervention, the artists conquer back the digital space as place of fundamental socio-political design opportunity. Their network has already been used on the refugee routes in Greece, Turkey as well as in asylum centres in Switzerland and in Germany. They also serve in exhibitions as participation and information platforms.  Info: HeK (House of Electronic Arts), Sabine Himmelsbach, Freilager­Platz 9, Münchenstein, Basel, Duration 14-19/6/16, Mon (13/6) & Wed-Sun (15-19/6/16) 10:00-20:00, Tue (14/6/16), 10:00-24:00, www.hek.ch

02Basel is not only the base of the world’s most important art fairs but also a place where relevant art is emerging. This time Kaskadenkondensator trusts in the local and cooperates with the young artist curators Dr. Kuckucks Labrador. They will invent a shop and exhibition display. An openly accessible storage of a multitude of artworks will serve as the source for the shows that are constantly arising. A platform for local artists. Info: Kuckucks Labrador, Burgweg 15, Basel, www.kasko.ch

03Kunsthalle Zürich presents “RATZ FATZ ZAUBER WAS – Fairs and Fairy Tales”, a project by Luca Beeler, Cedric Eisenring, and Carmen Tobler.  The project presents a collection of children’s books from the post-war era, whose richness and delight in visual experimentation reached a peak in the ‘70s. Extra copies removed from overfilled libraries, children’s books that fell out of the ecstatic focus and safekeeping of collectors and enthusiasts, or picture books from children’s rooms that gave way to the uninspired plans of empty nesters all bear the traces of countless children’s hands.  At LISTE Art Fair Basel a collection of over 200 children’s books is exhibited in a group of sculptural beings, from which visitors can take them out to browse as they please. There are also daily readings from the books with special guests at 15:00. Info: Kunsthalle Zürich, Limmatstrasse 270, Zürich, Duration: 14-19/6/16, Days & Hours: Tue-Wed (14-15/6)11:00-18:00, Thu (16/6), 11:00-20:00, Fri (17/6) 11:00-18:00, Sat-Sun (18-19/6) 10:00-17:00, http://kunsthallezurich.ch

slide3Room Escape is a project in the Werkraum Warteck pp. At Room Escape you are locked into a room with one single goal, find your way back to freedom within a single hour. You’ll have to unlock doors, crack locks, solve different puzzles. Human logic, general knowledge and the ability to combine different clues correctly will help you escape. Your group receives help from the game master outside of the room, accompanying your every step via video. When necessary he can give you hints to get closer to your goal. Info: Room Escape, Sherlock GmbH, Burgweg 15, Basel, www.roomescape.ch