Art Basel 2017

I visited three different events or exhibitions for Art Basel 2017: Casa Lin, Rubell  Family Collection and Fair.

The exhibition that had the most impact on me was Fair at Brickell City Centre by Spinello projects. The exhibition was called “ We Are Here”. The exhibition displayed artworks that encouraged participation and/or an immediate exchange of ideas between artists and viewers, a platform for multigenerational group of women artists.

Fair seeks to address gender inequality in the art world and beyond by providing space for radical women artists to transmit messages in contemporary art by women from around the world.

Fair addresses this contemporary market by creating an alternative marketplace for the exchange of ideas and messages, where women and trans artists can occupy, activate, take over dialogue, so their messages can take the place of the oppressive and hegemonic messaging. Fair discusses the way that women are disproportionately represented in the contemporary art world, and the enormous pay gap that still affects women across all industries especially in the art world.

In addition, Fair hopes to communicates ideas and experiences from diverse female perspectives that have been suppressed or oppressed by cis-hetero norms. Fair utilizes their voices of their community to create new patterns and generate new language for the transmission of ideas. Fair aims for the fair exchange of ideas, fair wage for women, fair market that reflects a diverse community, fair play and equal playing field.

This exhibition was very impactful to me because it communicates issues that are important to me a woman and an artist, discusses issues that I want to later explore within my artwork. Not only did I find this exhibition extremely empowering, beautifully displayed within the preconstruction/unfinished phase of an interior space with no painted walls and exposed air system in comparison to a gallery setting or convention exhibition.

Fair artwork: 

The first artwork that strongly affected me in a neutral way was the Guerrilla Girls hot pink T-shirts "The advantages of being a woman artist". This art piece communicates and exposes the sexual and racial discrimination in the art world. The thirteen points listed are ironic in tone and include: ‘working without pressure of success’, ‘having the opportunity to choose between career and motherhood’, ‘being included in revised versions of art history’ and finally ‘getting your picture in the art magazines wearing a gorilla suit’.

The second art work that strongly affected me positively was “Wish Tree for Peace”, encourages the audience to interact with the creative practice and Buddhist tradition of leaving their wishes tied to the branches of a tree in a public space. The tree acts as becoming part of the creation of artwork as both a performance gesture and later to be a document in Ono’s “Imagine Peace tower”.

This piece affected me positivity because as a viewer I was able to participate in the creation of the artwork and it conveys a lovely message to about what you would wish for, it also leaves you with the sense of mystery because you are intrigued to look at other wishes on the tree to view what other people wished for. I have never participated in creating an artwork before so I truly enjoyed this and reminded of me of the times I make wishes, this experience was very welcoming and peaceful.

  

Engaging with Miami Art Week made me think about how I want to continue to pursue art, explore working with metals, computer art, three dimensional printers and laser cutter, sewing and weaving techniques. It made me think about why I chose to study art and the goals I’ve set for myself, and the things I have accomplished as an artist thus far.

In addition, Miami Art Week made me think about setting goals as an artist (gallery show, grant application/resume, art internships. I had a new revelation about how the art world treats women, unfair pay and unequal opportunities.

Fair: Brickell City Centre

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Rubell Family Collection: 

 Casa Lin: