Classic materials and antique forms have been updated at Art Basel this week, with marble, intricately painted ceramics and a lot of vases being given a modern twist. Far from looking naff, they feel very fresh.
There are vases galore around the booths. Obviously there are some from Ai Weiwei in the form of Coloured Vases. They do exactly what they say on the tin, with primary colours and bright tones dripping in big blocks over matt white vases — simple, clean and crowd-pleasing. Nuno Ramos’ Vaso Ruim at Galeria Fortes Vilaça is equally appealing, his stark ceramic flower pots filled to the brim with gooey vaseline. There is also a set of vessels from Judith Hopf at Kaufmann Repetto, matt white ceramics that sit in pools of black, liquid-like rubber.
Sudarshan Shetty’s vases No Title mix wood with traditional blue floral ceramics, embroiling rich Chinese tradition in a contemporary style clash. Franz West’s contribution to Basel Unlimited is equally fitting, Untitled (10 Sculptures) features rows of vase shaped sculptures with lumpy, raw surfaces and an array of vibrant colours splashed across them.
Javier Tellez also invites us to a game of chess at Galerie Peter Kilchmann with Schering Chess. Smooth white and natural coloured eggs line the rows as pawns, looking beautifully soft and modern, while the back rows are taken up by reproductions of pre-Columbian ceramics. The installation is a conceptual look at the battle between mental patients, their illnesses and their medicines.
Matt Johnson’s Creamsicle at Blum & Poe tops the trend, a painful looking ice lolly made from marble, with a perfect bite taken from the side. It plays up to all the aesthetic joys of its material, while keeping a tongue-in-cheek and wholly contemporary approach. Elephant was highly tempted to take a bite, but we must look after our teeth.
