The Possible is Monstrous.
Works in the Public Sphere
17.9. —
20.9.2020
Kunsttage Basel is a joint event for contemporary and modern art. Various museums, art institutions, galleries, and off-spaces in and around Basel have put together a special arts program: www.kunsttagebasel.ch.
As part of Kunsttage Basel, the special project The Possible is Monstrous presents works by local, national, and international artists from different generations in various public spaces and freely accessible areas of selected institutions. As an interinstitutional collaboration, the project is curated by four curators from different institutions in Basel. The project is generously supported by Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Stadt and Swisslos-Fonds Basel-Landschaft, with organizational support from Art Basel.
The project was curated by Elena Filipovic (Kunsthalle Basel), Ines Goldbach (Kunsthaus Baselland), Daniel Kurjaković (Kunstmuseum Basel) and Samuel Leuenberger (SALTS).
Participating artists:
Yael Bartana, Eric Baudelaire, Mariana Castillo Deball, Latifa Echakhch, Judith Kakon, Teresa Margolles, Marinella Senatore, Augustas Serapinas, Hannah Weinberger, Krzysztof Wodiczko.
The curatorial concept aimes to stimulate the experience of the public sphere in times of crisis and make it experienceable as a jointly shared social space. The pandemic has shaken society to its foundations, fueled insecurity and raised existential difficulties. It has also brought to light concerns of meaning and necessary reorientation. The experience of public space, the relationship to the Other, the sense of community and togetherness is being reflected upon more deeply. The languages of art themselves are being tested, artistic practices re-examined with regard to the questions of relevance, of recalibration of social priorities, of as well as of altered thresholds and barriers. The project enabled viewers to explore art’s materiality and physicality, negotiate its transformative potential and propose pertinent forms of reflection and participation.