Skipping Art in the Dappled Shade

The atmosphere characterizing the temporary outside spaces of the Art Basel 2018 is fully in the spirit of Max Frisch: Isteinstrasse and the listed Rundhof courtyard are transformed into quiet, friendly spaces with dappled shade during the fair. The filigree steel supports of the courtyard are joined by the powerful trunks of the plane tree. There is space here to leave the art behind in this enjoyable environment for a short while, to let the mind wander over a drink and create room within it for new impressions.

The clearing in the dense forest of art is full of trees. The plane trees with their multiple trunks provide shade and exude a Mediterranean atmosphere while also structuring the space. Just like the visitors attending the show the trees are guests here that look as if they could move on at any time. Their root balls remain visible above the ground.

These trees – the epitome of longevity – cannot take root at Art Basel, as becomes clear by their placement on the asphalt or in gaps in the synthetic turf that has been cut into organic shapes. The temporary forest stands directly on the ground, unpretentiously and simply, with the roots safe and contained in root bags, which are in turn wrapped in plain jute fabric and which have been strapped down with sisal ropes. The natural image presented by this scene comes to an end once the root balls are spotted. The tree has been given a visible foot as a clear counterweight to its crown. Visitors move around on a level that would ordinarily be under ground. Horizons shift in a barely perceptible manner.