Art Basel 2016: Collateral Fairs Disappoint, Only Liste and I Never Read Shine

The 2016 edition of Art Basel saw its collateral fairs largely underwhelm, with the exception of Liste, which maintained high standards, and I Never Read, which impressed with its focused, research-driven approach. Design Miami/ Basel and Photo Basel received mixed reviews: Design Miami/ was deemed impeccable but more akin to Salone del Mobile than a curated art fair, while Photo Basel suffered from a poor venue change to Volkshaus. Volta, once a hyper-curated fair, has declined significantly, losing its solo-show requirement and offering uneven quality. Scope, now relocated to a central city building, remains plagued by kitsch and low-quality works despite some standout Italian galleries like Wunderkammern, Bianconi, Francesca Antonini, and Colombo. The Solo Project, despite a promising new location near Schaulager and the new Academy, suffered from embarrassing stands and sparse attendance. Overall, the collateral fairs collectively lack selection, mixing professionals with amateurs, and Italian galleries in particular are let down by poor contexts. The article, by Marco Enrico Giacomelli, gives ratings: Liste 7.5, Design Miami/ 6.5, Photo Basel 5.5, Volta 5.5, Scope 3, The Solo Project 4, I Never Read 7.