From 3 to 6 December, the famous contemporary art fair Art Basel took place in Miami Beach. This year, 267 leading international galleries participated in the event and 32 countries were represented. More than 70,000 artists, collectors and art aficionados also attended this 14th edition of Art Basel. Here's what you shouldn't miss this year!
Satellite fairs during Art Basel: Aqua art Miami, one of the most Floridian fairs in Florida
While Art Basel was held primarily at the huge Miami Beach Convention Center, a delightful artistic labyrinth of galleries from all over the world, the public could also visit some twenty "satellite" fairs that were held all over Miami, such as Art Miami in downtown Miami and Wynwood
Among these satellite fairs, Aqua Art Miami in Miami Beach is one of the most pleasant because it takes place in a retro hotel, very 50's style, and the galleries have been installed in the rooms which all overlook an inner courtyard with lush vegetation where you can have a drink in the shade of the coconut trees. A dive into the Florida of yesteryear in all its splendour! In this very special universe, we were able to discover the artists of the Monnin gallery based in Haiti (recommended by the Petit Futé Haiti). Among them, Pascale Monnin, very influenced by voodoo and Haitian traditions, is doing a remarkable job with this angel sculpture made of masks molded on her child and a friend (see photo in the slideshow).
The ephemeral galleries during Art Basel: France Pavilion's favourite!
Several ephemeral galleries also opened in Miami on the occasion of Art Basel. The most remarkable is undoubtedly the France Pavilion in Miami Beach, at 309 23rd Street (until December 30th)
"The aim of this gallery is to be a promotional platform for about twenty French artists in all fields: painting, sculpture, fashion, design..." explained Sébastien Laboureau, art curator of France Pavilion. And indeed, so many discoveries during this visit... So many talented Frenchies across the Channel, it's heartwarming!
We were able to meet Marie-Pierre Maquet aka MPM who had the brilliant idea of recycling used Nespresso capsules into art! She creates portraits of personalities by assembling the multicoloured flattened capsules and the resulting mosaics are superb. The portraits of Michael Jackson or Albert Einstein are really successful and we wouldn't be surprised if the famous George Clooney, Mr. "What else", one day asks him for a painting in his effigy (and we hope to be invited to the opening if that day should come!)
Another very nice surprise of the France Pavilion, the portraits full of impertinence of Clara Poupel who had fun to put forward rather iconoclastic personalities like Kim Kardashian..." She hasn't done anything incredible in her life, a lot of people don't like her, even hate her - explains Clara Poupel - and yet she has managed to become a world celebrity! So she's a force for admiration, whether we like her or not. That's why I wanted to do a portrait of her"
Finally, we fell in love with the Haveney brand's outfits, designed by a young designer from Marseille, Marie-Laetitia Rossazza, sparkling and brimming with talent. His clothes are elegant and simple, a so French style that already opens the doors to success
To sum up, Art Basel is really a magical event in Miami not to be missed!
Acknowledgements
Suzie Sponder, Director of Media Relations at the GMCVB for her warm welcome, Myrta Holinger for the Art Basel passes, Sonia Bencheikh and Jessica Bernabei for this unforgettable visit to Aqua Art Miami, Gabrielle HB Abada for introducing me to the France Pavilion with her innate artistic sense, Michou Mahtani for the shared laughter and her great sensitivity, Hani Salem just because and also because he sang Dalida so well during Art Basel.
