The Materiality of Art Fairs: Art Basel

One of the major commonalities of international art fairs like Art Basel, Frieze London, and The Armory Show in New York, is the gigantic mobilization of materials and bodies that, from disparate parts of the globe, travel to aggregate in one place (for a week or so) before moving on to a new destination. It’s an endless cycle of assembling and disassembling the material and the social components that constitute them. Through the lens of materiality, by which these events unfold, this summer school will take a critical look at world fairs, expos, biennials and triennials, and the works of artists, architects, urbanists, curators, and institutions involved in them.

An interdisciplinary group of tutors will provide the students with short tutorials on design, research methods and multimedia practices. The final work deliverables will take the form of print-based visualizations, pamphlets, architectural/ exhibition concepts, artworks, short films, or a combination of them. Regardless of format, the final work will contain evidence of substantial and original research conducted during the summer school, and a physical component to be exhibited or deployed in an art fair. The program will feature a reading seminar, guest lectures, guided tours, fieldwork, public events, and a final exhibition.

Course leader

FABRIZIO FURIASSI, VINICIO ALTMANN

Target group

The programme is open to current university students, recent graduates, and young professionals in architecture, urbanism, design, arts and related fields. Required software: Microsoft Office (or equivalent), Adobe CS, and 2D/3D CAD (for architects only). +18 y.o.

Course aim

Each year, we delve into subthemes that deepen our understanding of the complex relationships between society and the built environment. For the upcoming edition, our focus is on the environmental impact of Art Basel. Alongside our students, we will examine and analyze the externalities of this global event, which highlight paradigms of extractive capitalism and exclusionary urbanism.

Fee info

GBP 695: The AA Visiting School requires a fee of £695 per participant, which includes a £60 Visiting Membership fee, payable by all participants.

Scholarships

AAVS in Basel will offer full-tuition and partial-tuition scholarships based on merit and financial need. Students who are willing to apply for a scholarship should send a CV and a one-page motivation letter to aavs.basel@gmail.com by May 6th.