Highlights From Art Basel’s Unlimited 2024

Art Basel’s Unlimited 2024 is a unique sector dedicated to large-scale projects, giving exhibitors the platform to showcase monumental installations, colossal sculptures, boundless wall paintings, comprehensive photo series and expansive video projections. Curated by Giovanni Carmine, Director of Kunst Halle Sankt Gallen, for the fourth time, Unlimited pushes the boundaries of artistic expression and viewer engagement. This year, visitors can enjoy the Unlimited Night on Thursday, June 13, with special performances during extended hours. For the first time, attendees can vote for their favorite artwork throughout Art Basel, with the Unlimited People's Pick being announced towards the end of the show week.

Here are my personal highlights of this extraordinary show.

Chiharu Shiota, The Extended Line 2023-2024, Templon Gallery

Chiharu Shiota’s "The Extended Line" is a profound exploration of human experience through art. Inspired by her journey as a cancer survivor, Shiota creates an immersive environment that resonates with universal themes of life, death, and connection. The 16 × 9 meter installation features hundreds of kilometers of red ropes suspended above open hands, from which red papers seem to fly out. This powerful piece invites viewers to contemplate their own experiences and emotions, underscoring the shared joys and sufferings of humanity. Shiota, known for her evocative installations, continues to explore the presence in absence, making her work deeply impactful and thought-provoking.

Julio Le Parc, Zepelin de Acero, 2021, Galleria Continua

Julio Le Parc’s "Zepelin de Acero" (Steel Zeppelin) reinterprets his iconic light box explorations in a monumental steel installation. First showcased at the Hermès Foundation in Tokyo in 2021, this work challenges perceptions of motion, instability, and the diverse experiences within a single encounter. Le Parc, a pioneer of kinetic and contemporary art, aims to engage viewers actively, encouraging them to question traditional roles of artist and observer. His work, rooted in the influential Groupe de Recherche d’Art Visuel (GRAV) collective, continues to push boundaries and invite active participation, making "Zepelin de Acero" a dynamic addition to Unlimited 2024.

Yayoi Kusama, Aspiring to Pumpkin’s Love, the Love in My Heart, 2023, David Zwirner Gallery

Yayoi Kusama’s "Aspiring to Pumpkin’s Love, the Love in My Heart" is a striking example of her signature style, featuring a monumental bronze pumpkin adorned with characteristic dots. This piece, part of her 2023 series, transforms the pumpkin into an undulating, almost surreal form. Kusama’s work, which bridges the microscopic and macroscopic, invites viewers to engage with the sculpture from multiple perspectives, revealing a dynamic interplay of space and form. A central figure in Pop art and Minimalism, Kusama’s latest creation continues her exploration of organic shapes and patterns, offering a deeply immersive and visually captivating experience.

Keith Haring, Untitled (FDR NY) #5-22, 1984, Martos Gallery, Gladstone Gallery

Keith Haring’s "Untitled (FDR NY) #5-22" brings together 18 panels from his iconic frieze originally created along the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive in New York City in 1984. This exuberant mural, spanning nearly 300 feet, was a vibrant expression of Haring’s graffiti-inspired art. After its initial display, the panels were dispersed, and this exhibition marks the first time a significant section has been reunited. Haring’s work, known for its energetic and spontaneous style, remains relevant and powerful, reflecting his unique visual language and its impact on contemporary art. This reassembly offers a rare opportunity to experience Haring’s dynamic public art in a new context.

Sam Falls, Spring to Fall, 2023, Galleria Franco Noero, 303 Gallery, Galerie Eva Presenhuber

Sam Falls’ "Spring to Fall" is an expansive installation that captures the ephemeral beauty of nature through the changing seasons. Using natural materials and processes, Falls creates a series of works that document the passage of time and the subtle shifts in color and texture that occur with it. This installation invites viewers to reflect on the cycles of growth and decay, emphasizing the transient nature of life and art. Falls’ work bridges the gap between the natural world and artistic expression, creating a meditative space that encourages contemplation and appreciation of the fleeting moments that make up our existence.

Jenny Holzer, Survival, 1989, Hauser & Wirth

Jenny Holzer’s "Survival" series, first exhibited at the Guggenheim Museum in 1989, remains a poignant and powerful commentary on contemporary existence. Featuring 17 granite benches engraved with assertive and often contentious phrases, this installation challenges viewers to confront the harsh realities of survival in modern society. Holzer’s use of text in public spaces, from electronic signs to carved stone, engages the audience in a dialogue about social and political issues. This installation, arranged in a precise circumference, not only honors its original presentation but also invites viewers to reflect on the enduring relevance of Holzer’s incisive and thought-provoking messages.

Maria Hassabi, Mirrors, 2024, The Breeder Gallery

Maria Hassabi’s "Mirrors" is an immersive performative installation that explores the interplay between reality and perception. Building on her previous work, "I’ll Be Your Mirror," this installation features nine photographs framed by golden acrylic mirrors. The distorted reflections capture the fluid movements of dancers, abstracting the human form and commenting on the pervasive influence of media in shaping our perceptions. Hassabi’s work challenges viewers to confront their own reflections and consider the manipulation of images in contemporary culture. By merging photography and performance, "Mirrors" creates a dynamic and reflective space that engages viewers in a continuous loop of observation and introspection.

These highlights from Art Basel’s Unlimited 2024 showcase the diversity and innovation that define this sector, offering a glimpse into the monumental and thought-provoking works that push the boundaries of contemporary art.