Artists from The Continent at Photo Basel 2020

The 2020 edition of the renowned fair saw its doors open online, postponing the physical edition to September.

Thirty-eight are the participating galleries for the current edition. Each of them hung their works on the virtual walls created thanks to the technology developed by Kunstamatrix, the leading platform in the creation of virtual reality dedicated to art.
The platform enables art lovers and collectors to enjoy 3D exhibition as if you were in a real fair, walking between one stand to another independently.
Moreover allows users to place real-size artworks to your walls thanks to the augmented reality app KUIO, available for Apple devices.

In addition to the participating galleries, Photo Basel Art Fair has organized two special exhibitions curated by Audrey Hoareau and Pauline Guex:
Vintage cabinet “crossing” which illustrates the multiplicity of fluxes and interactions between beings, forms and ideas in photography. As per curators’ words “These traces of light on the paper mirror a past era, one of the silver salts, witnessing a crucial time in the history of photography. ”
and “Beyond the cosmos” with a clear focus on young, emerging talents.
The section proposes an immersion into the movements and trends of the new photographic scene.
Seventeen artworks take us through these original and singular universes, which highlight the necessity and urgency to constantly question, challenge and reconsider our places and views of the world.
“Finding and encouraging new talents is a crucial role in the photography ecosystem. It requires a permanent watch on this effervescent sphere and a high involvement.” the Art Fair affirm.

Art And About Africa team decided to web-walk through the Art Fair to find the artists from the continent, helped by the curators Audrey Hoareau and Pauline Guex and Sven from Photo Basel Art Fair.

In alphabetic order:

Ernest Cole | South Africa at Magnum Photos Gallery
Filipe Branquinho | Mozambiuque at AKKA Project Dubai-Venezia
Lindokuhle Sobekwa | South Africa at Magnum Photos Gallery
Mauro Pinto | Mozambique at AKKA Project Dubai – Venezia
Moira Forjaz | Zimbabwe at Vintage Cabinet Crossing special exhibition
Roger Ballen | USA/South Africa at Camara Oscura
Sherie Secrets | Kenya at Beyond the Cosmos special exhibition
Teddy Mitchener | Kenya at AKKA Project Dubai – Venezia

A special mention must be dedicated to Ayana V. Jackson, a photographer from the USA exhibited at Gowen Contemporary booth.
Ayana is interested in the representation of black portraiture in the 19th and early 20th century. She questions the role of the history of photography and fine arts in the construction of racial and gender stereotypes. Jackson stages her own body to interpret this complex array of identities.

The Art Fair also conducted, as part of the programme, short conversations with a selection of artists.
The Photo Basel website is updated every day and the talks with Filipe Branquinho, Mauro Pinto and Teddy Mitchener will be uploaded during the weekend.
Link: https://www.photo-basel.com/conversations-2

Photo Basel Art Fair VIRTUAL EDITION is open until June 24st.
Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy the artworks by the mentioned artists from wherever you are in the world.

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