Art 33 Basel, the International Art Show, closed its gates on Monday, June 17. Art 33 Basel made a strong impression, confirming its po-sition as the art show and annual meeting place of the art world. This is founded on the outstanding quality of the exhibited works of art, the influx of exponents of the international art scene and its inspiration to the art market. The exhibiting galleries, the world’s press and the international public unanimously delivered positive feedback on Art 33 Basel and spoke of a successful and exciting event. The 268 exhibitors from Europe, North and Latin America, Asia and Australia said goodbye to 50,000 visitors after seven days abundant in events, discoveries and sales.

The International Art Show, Art 33 Basel, closed with outstanding results. The participants rated the 33rd staging of the show as an excellent year that at the very least matched the standard set by last year’s record-breaking show. Samuel Keller, Director of Art Basel, had the following to say about the event: «Art 33 Basel was a true festival of art. The galleries and their artists presented outstanding works and were rewarded accordingly.» Despite the beautiful and hot summer weather, 50,000 art collectors, museum representatives, artists and art aficionados from around the globe visited Art 33 Basel (55,000 in 2001). Among them, 1,500 representatives of the media from all the continents gathered information on everything presently available on the international art market. The media’s great interest in Art Basel also ensured the exhibiting galleries additional attention and response from the press. The elaborately designed catalogue, which provides an extensive overview of the current international art m

«Art Unlimited», which was launched as an experiment by Art Basel in 2000, sparked more enthusiasm than ever from experts and art lovers alike. A total of 66 outsize projects (sculptures, installations, video, murals, digital art and performances) were shown on this unique platform that is unlike any other event at which art is shown and sold. Art Basel has repeatedly boosted its status as the most important annual meeting place of the art world, in part thanks to the exhibitions mounted in museums and the many events taking place in parallel to Art 33 Basel. Great interest was also accorded to the wide selection of services available to visitors at Art 33 Basel. They included the gourmet restaurant ‘Stucki’ operated by Pierre Buess of the Restaurant Bruderholz and Evelyne and Werner Martin of the Restaurant Martin in Flüh, which was fully booked almost every day, as well as the avidly used new lounge in the «Art Unlimited» hall, featuring an art bookstore, a video library, the E-Lounge and the «Art Lobby» communication platform. Visitors Indeed, all participants rated Art 33 Basel as an excellent year and displayed great satisfaction with the results achieved. Interest from visitors was said to be exceptional. Never before have so many important art collectors from around the globe visited Art Basel. The EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse consequently also recorded more landings and take-offs by private jets during the art show. Most hotel rooms in and around Basel were taken and restaurants reported excellent business. In addition to private collectors from every continent, virtually all the world’s important museums sent delegations to Art 33 Basel. Larger groups of collectors at Art 33 Basel came primarily from the Benelux countries, Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain and North and Latin America. An increasing proportion of the public consisted of experts, while there were slightly fewer visitors came from the region of Basel and Southern Germany. It was pleasing that visitors to Art 33 Basel also included a particularly large number of artists. Many of them had created works for this show in particular and installed them in person. More than ever before, Art Basel is the world’s ‘most international’ art event.

Statistics Despite the beautiful and hot summer weather, some 50,000 visitors flocked to Art 33 Basel over the space of seven days (55,000 in record-breaking 2001). And despite a restrictive invitation policy, Art 33 Basel received more than 10,000 important guests on the evening of the Vernissage. Art Basel once again attracted great attention from the international media. A total of 1,500 media representatives from every continent visited the art show to gather information on the exhibits and on current developments. The Show Management and the exhibiting galleries are delighted about the huge interest shown and the response from the media.

Sales According to a survey by the Show Management, all the exhibiting galleries succeeded in finding potential buyers for their works of art. All the participants spoke of good to excellent sales. Long-standing exhibitors rated this year’s Art Basel as one of the best in the show’s history. Excellent sales were achieved in all price categories, from works of young artists priced under CHF 2,000 to rare, museum-quality masterpieces costing millions. The interest from exhibitors was dedicated both to the Classical Moderns and to contemporary art. The outsize projects at «Art Unlimited» also received great attention from collectors. It was also pleasing that works by young artists, some of whom are still unknown, sold very well. Fears that the international art market would suffer due to the tragic events of September 11 last year and the difficult economic climate were proven wrong at Art 33 Basel. The international art market is supported to a great degree by private collectors, while most public institutions cont
Art Basel / Arte10.com