The world-famous art fair's Conversations series which will take place from June 14-18, 2017, in Basel, Switzerland, has published its list of 23 free talks. Of particular interest this year: French contemporary artists, politics and artistic visibility, and the future of art itself.
As part of the annual Conversations series of talks at Art Basel, leading figures from around the world have been invited to discuss some of the industry's most relevant questions and pay homage to inspirational artists.
French artists to be celebrated in Premiere Artist and Influencers talks
For the 2017 edition of Conversations, contemporary French female artists are being given particular recognition.
The renowned French visual artist Annette Messager has been invited to talk about her work and practice in the Premiere Artist talk. This feature has previously seen presentations by artists such as AA Bronson, Alfredo Jaar, Lynda Benglis and Danh VÅ. Messager, who won a Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2005, will be interviewed by the new Director of the Tate, Dr. Maria Balshaw.
Dominique Gonzalez-Foerster, another French contemporary artist, will also feature on the Conversations stage as part of the Artists' Influencers series. Gonzalez-Foerster will be joined by Kasper König, artistic director of the Skulptur Projekte Münster 2017.
Art further afield: politics and publicity
The Conversations series also aims to highlight the work and challenges of young artists from around the world, especially in developing countries or countries rarely seen on the international art radar.
The South African videographer and photographer Candice Breitz will be joined by fellow South African photographer and activist Zanele Muholi to discuss how artists from outside Asia, Europe and the US can make it into the industry and become successful. The talk, moderated by editor Valerie Kabov, will also tackle issues concerning artistic expatriation.
From escaping one's country to being imprisoned it, the Russian conceptual artist Vadim Zakharov will discuss how artists from the USSR-era were able to keep creating art despite rigid state restrictions, in the "Russian Conceptualism: Silent Resistance" talk.
Art and the screen: the future of the industry
With the steamroller phenomena that are the internet and artificial intelligence, the art industry is naturally asking itself questions about the future. Art Basel is turning to digital artists Aparna Rao and Alia Al-Senussi to discuss the former's high-tech art and "being" creations in a discussion entitled "Artificial Lives"..
Other talks focusing on art's digital and technological future include "The Social Media Art Market", "Archive and the Digital Dark Age", and"The Future(s) of Photography".
The Art Basel Fair runs from 15-18 June, 2017, in Basel, Switzerland.