ART FAIRS:LISTE Art Fair 2018,Part II

For over 23 years the focus of LISTE Art Fair in Basel is to introduce young galleries with primarily emerging, as yet little known artists. Each year, approximately 80 galleries are participating – of those, 10 -15 galleries are introduced for the first time. LISTE’s mission is to promote these new galleries and introduce them to an international expert public (Part I).

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: LISTE Art Fair 2018 Archive

As a not-for-profit-oriented fair, LISTE Art Fair has consistently advocated for the promotion of new galleries since its founding in 1996. The fair strives to provide reasonable terms and conditions to galleries, thus easing their entry into the international art market. LISTE is considered the most important Art Fair for a young generation of Galleries and artist. The jury which is composed exclusively of curators and artists selected for the 23^rd edition of LISTE Art Fair, 79 galleries (16 galeries are represented at LISTE for the first time) from 32 countries with works by over 170 artists.  This year 30 artists are introduced in solo presentations because the Fair gives importance to curated presentations with selected artists. The newly founded Friends of LISTE (2017) is committed to providing comprehensive support for the promotion of galleries. Thanks to the membership contributions, 10 galleries, which applied with dedicated stand presentations, were awarded a stand price reduction this year. The widely acclaimed Performance Project, that has been a permanent, autonomous part of LISTE Art Fair since 2005, will take place for the 14^th time, curated by Eva Birkenstock. This year the Performance Project takes a closer look at the icreasing development of the blurring of the boundaries between visual and performative art, in the areas of music and sound-works. Also four Galleries present performances in their booths. This year’s Helvetia Art Prize, which includes a monetary award of CHF 15,000 and a solo presentation at LISTE, goes to Gina Proenza, who received her bacherlor’s degree in “Arts Visuals” from the Haute Ecole d’Art de Lausanne. Navigating between reality and fiction, Gina Proenza produces images, texts, smells and installations that do not permit clear interpretations and are politically charged. The rewarded work is a collection of works using various media. It is inspired by the history of a Colombian village founded in the 17^th Century by slaves on the run and whose existence has long been ignored. Its inhabitants had in common not only a culture of their own, but also a language, the “palenquero”. The artist has a particular flair for storytelling and has succeeded in conveying her narration convincingly in scenographic format. She opens up spatial, narrative and even olfactory experiences, and is highly adept at implementing individual genres both in conceptual and visual terms. Special Guests: The Istituto Svizzero is LISTE’s guest in the print workshop with an exhibition entitled: “Fair – Models –Fragments of History, Evocative Fair Stands”. Another guest of LISTE, HeK (House of Electronic Arts Basel) presents a site-specific installation by the artist group RYBN.ORG, together with a new work by Lauren Huret. Kaskadenkondensator presents PANCH and Artina. Peter Bläuer, LISTE’s co-founder and director since the fair’s founding in 1996 and today’s owner of the LISTE, will be retiring from the active operations and would like to hand over management of the fair to a new generation. He is transferring LISTE to a non-profit foundation. The position for a new director has been posted and will selected at the end of August 2018. The new director will ensure continuity, strengthen LISTE, but also he will develop new models for the promotion of young galleries and emerging art.

 Info: Artistic Director: Peter Bläuer, LISTE Art Fair 2018, Burgweg 15, Basel, Days & Hours: Preview: (by invitation only) Mon (11/6/19) 12:00-17:00, Public Opening: Mon (11/6/19) 17:00-21:00, Tue-Sat (12-16/6/18) 13:00-21:00, Sun (17/6/18) 13:00-18:00, Admission: Single entry” CHF 20, Reduced entry: CHF 10 (Students/Seniors/AHV), Free admission for kids up to 16 years, if accompanied by an adult, After 20:00: Single entry CHF 6, Students/Seniors/AHV free admission, www.liste.ch