With the opening of Art Basel in Miami, one of the biggest global art fairs, AP Art, architecture, and photography students set out to explore two satellite fairs featuring emerging artists Dec 4th
Students started the field trip by visiting Miami’s original and longest running contemporary art Addressfair, Art Miami. The fair featured important works from modern artists of the 20th and 21st centuries in collaboration with renowned galleries globally. Featuring artists from all over the world, the fair’s organizers aimed to create a stimulating environment for collectors, artists and an the general public as a source of inspiration and a start to new conversations.
From reverse painting on glass to gold inlay, the works of modern artists surrounded students with color and thought-provoking compositions. The fair included technology-powered installations and sculptures as well. Wax women swimmer figures and greek-style paper sculptures were on display along with abstract and figural works.
“One of my favorite works was Thomas Deininger’s Macaw sculpture,” junior Lina Song said. The artist created a sculpture in which perspective affected the illusion of the bright parrot. If one was standing and looking at the work head-on, it would look like a bird. However, a step in either direction would reveal the side view of the sculpture, consisting of various plastic toys such as doll heads, Star Wars stormtroopers, animal figures and buttons.
“Wild Macaws are now endangered because of deforestation and poaching,” Deininger said in an Instagram post describing his work. The sculpture was intended to juxtapose the lives of endangered bird species with human produce as a way of showing the effects of industry.
Following Art Miami, students visited its sister fair named Context. This exhibit was focused on mid-career and cutting-edge artists who gain introductions to art collectors and exposure through this fair. Featuring a total of 78 exhibitors, the fair had everything from brass sculptures to installations of ancient Korean family stamps.
The fair was a helpful and inspiring source for students to see new ideas, feel the atmosphere of art and explore potential careers and connections in the art world. By seeing price points and modern creations, students now have a better idea of what the market looks like for art collectors and artists.
Fun, interactive works are also on display. Andrew Zolty’s art combined color, data and kinetics to create moving sculptures. Works included arcade-themed panels on which the viewer could play games by moving their head and motorized tiles that mimicked ocean currents(Photo/Alina Sukhovskaya)
