Art Basel: the El Dorado of the art world

The world’s most important art fair and the annual meeting place of the international art world, Art 31 Basel takes place in Basel, Switzerland from June 21 to 26, 2000. 271 galleries from Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Australia will participate and present about 5000 works by more than 1000 artists of the 20th and 21st century. Individual exhibitions by young artists, photography, printed graphics and film will be on display in special sectors. Art Unlimited, a new exhibition project for extraordinary works of art, will be making its debut. About 50,000 visitors and 1,000 media representatives are expected.

Art collectors, gallery owners, artists, curators and art lovers from all over the world will meet here for the 31st time. Its reputation is based on the high quality and unique variety of the works of art presented as well as the international character of its visitors. The exhibiting galleries were selected by the admissions committee from a record number of over 800 applications. About 15% of the galleries will be participating for the first time. The most strongly represented countries are: Germany (61), the USA (45), Switzerland (41), France (27), England (22), Italy (18) Belgium (8), Spain (8) and Holland (4). The number of galleries and artists from East Asia (9), Scandinavia (6) and Latin America (4) has also increased.

Despite the continuously growing demand, the number of participants has not been increased. This competitive pressure guarantees painstakingly presented exhibitions and a varied selection of high calibre works of art. Traditionally, rare museum masterpieces of the Classical Moderns and classic contemporary art works are exhibited, purchased and sold at Art Basel. Many of the works are by the most recent generation of artists, who are placing their stamp on the beginning of the 21st century.

In Art Statements, young artists present themselves in 27 individual exhibitions. Art Photography gathers 19 leading specialists in photography, while 22 international editors display their printed graphics and multiples in Art Edition. Art Magazine introduces 64 art publications from all over the world, while in the evenings, in Art Film, in the Stadtkino in the Kunsthalle Basel, presents new film productions by artists.

As a new service for exhibitors and visitors, the Art Loss Register database listing 100,000 missing and stolen works of art, will have a stand of its own for the first time.