Art Basel – The Making of

Multi-trunked plane trees of a substantial size populate the listed circular courtyard and the open space on Ipsteinstrasse, providing shade for the show visitors who come here to relax, enjoy a drink in the fresh air and clear their heads for new impressions. The trees’ root balls, artistically and safely contained, reveal that these plants are just temporary guests here; their elevated nature on the asphalt meanwhile raises questions about horizons.

After the art fair they will return to their native nursery before one day finding their final location. The trees’ journey on five lorries, their packaging and transport through the exhibition, their placement and the aesthetically inviting protection of the roots demanded a lot of sensitivity from everyone involved – not just from a design perspective but also when handling these timber items that are not normally very mobile. All this was especially true since there was only a small time window for transporting the trees into the courtyard during the complex set-up of the show.