ART BASEL MIAMI 2016
29 Dec, 2016
Article by Esther Nash, curator of Townhouse Art Gallery
The art fair shows have been a continued success–more buzz and excitement with each annual fair. The art brings out the international jet set. This year art curators and the major art collectors from all over the world flocked to see the latest in the art scene with the different trends in the art scene. Never a dull moment in Miami -always something new and different. Each fair is completely different no two alike.
Notable artists from all parts of the world exhibited at Pulse, Untitled, Scope as well as at the Art Basel fair.
UNTITLED: I found the work impressive of Guðmundur Thoroddsen, he is from Reykjavik, Iceland, where he currently lives and works. His paintings, ceramics, and works on paper question our glorification of male power, and display a humorous vision of contemporary masculinity in ideological disarray. In his narrative yet sporadically drawn two-dimensional works, ambiguously ancient bearded figures compete in sports, cavort aimlessly, or while away the time in a pre-apocalyptic bacchanal of men striving to capture the dying days of male supremacy. Muted colors, delicate graphite, and chunky collage evoke Jockum Nordstrom, Carter, Marcel Dzama, and Twombly-esque scrawls. Ungainly ceramics are titled as trophies awarded for futile victories, or have names like “Double Naughty Boy” and appendages suggesting bodily parts.
PULSE: Rashaad Newsome, a stand-out artist, utilizes his artwork as a means to explore the concept of intersectionality in numerous variations. His most recent body of work takes this idea one step further as his collages evolve from abstracted Baroque-esque designs that incorporate symbols of these subcultures to personified figurative subjects with clearly recognizable human faces and bodies. By moving towards neo-Cubist portraiture, Newsome engages with the idea of agency, specifically in relation to interpretations of feminism by transgender and cisgender women of color. In giving his collages faces, Newsome inherently imbues them with this sense of agency, as these strong female characters that emerge in his work confront viewers head-on.
Art Basel Miami showcased leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and Africa showed significant work from the masters of Modern and contemporary art, as well a new generation of emerging stars. Paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, films, and editioned works of the highest quality were on display in the main exhibition hall. Ambitious large‐scale artworks, films and performances became part of the city’s outdoor landscape at nearby Collins Park and SoundScape Park.
ART BASEL: Sun Xun incorporated the five elements into his installation to restructure the Universe. A international from Hong Kong, Sun Xun made quite an impression in representing Piguet.
SCOPE: This 2016 fair featured an exciting international group.
For those equestrian lovers I suggest Bob Tabor. Bob Tabor is known for his large format prints of equestrian portraits and stunning seascapes. His unique approach to his work creates an intimate visceral experience for the viewer. For his equestrian portraits, only natural light is used to illuminate his subjects.
In a time when politics seem to discuss whether alterations to the flag may no longer protected free speech. Jean Philiippe Kadzinski’s retroflag appears to still be protected. His work about New York City evinces his optimistic disposition, characteristic of the energy and vibration charging throughout the city that brought him alive. So much of the fascination the city exerts arises from the organic growth and tension amongst old and new, utilitarian and fantastic.
So there you have it in a ninja turtle half shell. Miami is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and when you fill it with artists it is perfect. My advice, Always set aside money for the arts it never a bad investment, it’s just like real estate it’s a gamble in general it no reason to not take some risks for art collection. It only makes more thrilling when your investment goes up. Choose wisely and it not a bad idea to hire a art director to advise you. It’s not usually to land a bargain when buying art. It happens very rarely.
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