Basel's Summer Art Scene: Five Exhibitions from Ungestalt to Black Box
Kunsthalle Basel presents 'Ungestalt', a group exhibition exploring amorphous forms through works by Marcel Duchamp, Alina Szapocznikow, Caroline Achaintre, Trisha Donnelly, and Adrián Villar Rojas, running until 13 August. At Kunstmuseum Basel, 24 Super 8 films by Swiss artist Roman Signer, created between 1975 and 1989, are on display, acquired by the museum in 2016. Fondation Beyeler features simultaneous shows of Wolfgang Tillmans, with 200 photographic works from the late 1980s to present, and Tino Sehgal, presenting six 'constructed situations' including 'This You', through 1 October. Brazilian artist Jarbas Lopes debuts his solo exhibition 'e’a’u’ at CRAC Alsace in Altkirch, resulting from a residency and running until 17 September, with a shuttle from Basel on opening night. Vitra Museum's Black Box hosts a collection of toy robots and astronauts from 1937 to 1968, belonging to Rolf Fehlbaum, with scenography by Ronan Bouroullec, on view 20 August and 17 September. These exhibitions offer alternatives to Art Basel's structured events, emphasizing volatility, play, and community engagement across generations and media.
Key facts
- Ungestalt at Kunsthalle Basel runs through 13 August, featuring works by Marcel Duchamp, Alina Szapocznikow, Caroline Achaintre, Trisha Donnelly, and Adrián Villar Rojas.
- Roman Signer's 24 Super 8 films from 1975 to 1989 are shown at Kunstmuseum Basel, acquired in 2016.
- Fondation Beyeler presents Wolfgang Tillmans's 200 photographic works and Tino Sehgal's six 'constructed situations' until 1 October.
- Jarbas Lopes's solo show 'e’a’u’ at CRAC Alsace in Altkirch runs through 17 September, with a shuttle from Basel on opening night.
- Vitra Museum's Black Box exhibits toy robots and astronauts from 1937 to 1968, owned by Rolf Fehlbaum, with scenography by Ronan Bouroullec on 20 August and 17 September.
- Ungestalt explores volatile forms, contrasting with the wholeness of gestalt, in a group show spanning different generations.
- Roman Signer described himself as an 'elementary gambler' in a 2008 interview, reflecting the playful experiments in his films.
- Tino Sehgal's 'This You' was acquired by Fondation Beyeler two years ago and is part of his exhibition there.
Entities
Artists
- Marcel Duchamp
- Alina Szapocznikow
- Caroline Achaintre
- Trisha Donnelly
- Adrián Villar Rojas
- Roman Signer
- Wolfgang Tillmans
- Tino Sehgal
- Jarbas Lopes
- Ronan Bouroullec
- Rolf Fehlbaum
Institutions
- Kunsthalle Basel
- Kunstmuseum Basel
- Fondation Beyeler
- CRAC Alsace
- Vitra Museum
- Art Basel
- Tate Modern
Locations
- Basel
- Switzerland
- Altkirch
- France