Every December we make our annual pilgrimage to attend Art Basel Miami Beach (ABMB). In this 17th edition, we are greeted not only by sunny skies and contemporary art but also by exciting updates to the fair. This year the main exhibiting space plays host to 269 galleries and over 4,000 artists from across the world!
Opening Preview of Art Basel Miami Beach. Image courtesy of Suzanne Lovell Inc.
Upon entering the fair, we immediately recognized this oil on canvas by Nils Erik Gjerdevik on view at Nils Staerk! We recently installed three paintings by Gjerdevik in our Miami Beach Residence and we continue to admire the artist’s work.
Nils Erik Gjerdevik, Untitled, 2013. Oil on canvas. 70.9″ H X 38.2″ W. Image and details courtesy of Nils Staerk.
We look forward to seeing new galleries and those we know will have exquisite works, such as Sean Kelly. We are inspired by Taiwanese artist Wu Chi-Tsung’s adaptation of the 19th cyanotype process. The artist first uses the cyanotype paper to create an illusion of a rugged mountain before he exposes crushed paper to light and then flattening and finalizing the result. In this example and his large installation in the new Meridians sector, the contemporary results are breathtaking!
Wu Chi-Tsung, Cyano-Collage 070, 2019. Cyanotype photography, Xuan paper, acrylic gel. 27 9/16″ H X 53 1/8″ W. Unique. Image and details courtesy of Sean Kelly Gallery.
Perhaps most exciting is the addition of Meridians. This newly minted sector of the fair presents ambitious, large-scale works such as installations, paintings, and even live performances! Set in Miami Beach Convention Center’s Grand Ballroom, there is certainly enough room for the 34 works on view.
An installation view of Isaac Julien’s nine channel video installation Lina Bo Bardi – A Marvellous Entanglement, 2019. This incredible tribute to the Italian-born Brazilian modernist architect is jointly presented in the Meridians sector by Victoria Miro, Galeria Nara Roesler, and Jessica Silverman Gallery. Image courtesy of Art Basel.
This impressive installation in Meridians highlights Lina Bo Bardi’s most quintessential buildings and reflects on her lasting contributions to architecture and design. Issac Julien filmed this on location in São Paulo Museum of Art (MASP), SESC Pompéia and in the Teatro Oficina, all of which embody Bo Bardi’s innovative ideas. Julien’s film is certainly worth a watch while at the fair!
We are thrilled to be attending the fair — Miami is abuzz with the energy of the Art World this week! For live updates from the art scene be sure to follow us on Instagram!