ART IN ANALOG: Basel By Berlin 2020
- krisarte
- Jun 18, 2020
- 2 min read
This week, Berlin art galleries are stepping up with their continually innovative responses to the “new normal” that is a world largely without travel.
By this time next week, many of us would have been at Art Basel- in Basel- representing our galleries, viewing others’ works, collaborating, socializing, purchasing artworks, and contextualizing art for all who could not be there.
Now that it turns out, none of us can be there. Art Basel has offered Online Viewing Rooms (OVR) as a channel for galleries worldwide to virtually connect with collectors, critics, curators, and all who are interested in viewing. This pivot has mostly proven to be a welcomed evolution to the annual event, offering collectors a new pace with which to ‘visit’ and contemplate the art and galleries on their radar. Meanwhile, gallerists have come to see this as an opportunity to reach new audiences and foster more diverse relationships than ever before, while others see a marked increase in inquiries.
Coinciding with the second edition of Art Basel OVR to begin later this week, Berlin seized the opportunity to enhance the OVR experience exponentially- offering not just a virtual replacement or substitute, but also an analog component to the event. This concept of ‘analog’ suggests that art galleries in Berlin are fully embracing the new normal by providing a hybrid approach: approximately 30 Berlin galleries will not only be participating in the Art Basel OVR, but also opening their doors for the live presentation of a selection of the artworks originally prepared for Art Basel 2020. These galleries will be open from 11am-6pm daily from 17 June through 18 June.
As more cities and art/cultural centers gradually begin to see easing up on COVID-19 lockdown requirements, perhaps more of these hybrid virtual/physical art fair analogs might emerge, acting as bubbles of safe and sustainable access to a continually evolving art market. Indeed, environmental concerns and issues of inclusivity should only further advocate for the continuation of these experiments with new ways of conducting art fairs, long after the COVID crisis is over.
While the challenge of genuinely engaging with others in the art market certainly remains, it is also a motivator to experiment further with new modes of engagement- and perhaps, a motivator to view and approach- even create- artworks in a newly considered light. Further considerations as to how much transparency these major pivots will impact on the art market remain to be seen: will we see more prices on the walls? Maybe, maybe not- but we are beginning to see more access to pricing via virtual viewing and inquiries.
Regardless, I will be there in attendance and fully reachable for engagement and fruitful discussion. I hope that if you’re considering attending, whether virtually, in person, or a hybrid approach, you’ll join me in contemplating how we can continue to create a more evolved and sustainable plan to art fairs and art events - and I hope that we can collaborate, together, in innovating our arts and cultural institutions.
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