HOW TO THINK ABOUT IT

The thrill of the chase. Galleries don’t normally have the adrenaline advantage over auctions, where bidding can reach a fever pitch. But at Basel they do, which may be why 46 percent of gallery sales in 2018 were made at art fairs. This year, Basel is expected to highlight French artist Laure Prouvost (pictured), who’s also representing France at the 2019 Venice Biennale, and the work of Turner Prize nominee Lawrence Abu Hamdan.

Insta-worthy. One part of the Basel exhibition that’s ripe for social media snappers is “Unlimited,” which features large installations. This year, unsurprisingly, many are political in nature: Rivane Neuenschwander’s Bataille consists of slogans and mottos taken from French protest placards and embroidered onto labels, which visitors can freely remix on a giant pinboard (or take away pinned to their own clothes). There’s also Alicia Framis’ LifeDress, a collection of outfits designed from airbag material meant to make a statement about how women are expected to protect themselves from harassment in daily life.

Outside the gates. Art Basel is enormous, drawing nearly half as many visitors as the town’s 178,000 residents. But it isn’t the only game in town. In fact, the Liste Art Fair — which charges a premium to show artists over the age of 40 in a bid to make sure the younger generation is well-represented — takes place in the same town in the same week. While those who exhibit there won’t be as high-profile as those in Art Basel, it’s a good chance for collectors to see who might be up-and-coming.

WHAT TO READ

The #MeToo Movement Will Headline Art Basel Unlimited This Year, by Eileen Kinsella in ArtNet
“Each strip of paper contains the name and profession of an individual accused of misconduct, followed by their apologies (or non-apologies, as the case may be), an up-to-date summary of the allegations they face, their current employment status, and the status of any legal action taken against them.”

How Switzerland Put ‘A’ Stamp on Innovative Design, by Elizabeth Smith on OZY
“For a city that generated much of its wealth from the chemical industry, Basel is also among the world’s most renowned art and culture hubs.”

WHAT TO WATCH