With just one more month left to apply for the 2023, 8th edition of photo basel art fair – we interviewed photo basel’s Artistic Director, Alessa Widmer, on her vision for this upcoming edition of the fair.

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photo basel's Artistic Director on the next edition

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With just one more month left to apply for the 2023, 8th edition of photo basel art fair – we interviewed photo basel’s Artistic Director, Alessa Widmer, on her vision for this upcoming edition of the fair.

You and the photo basel team are currently preparing the 8th edition of the fair this June – thank you for taking some time to share your vision with us.

photo basel: We heard a story that claims, that you have never missed an edition of photo basel? What was your first point of contact with the fair?

alessa widmer: Yes, that’s actually a true story. I visited the first edition of the fair eight years ago (back in 2015) when the fair was at Ackermannshof – before they moved to the Volkshaus. At that time, I was still involved in my studies and it was quite exciting to see the first Swiss art fair dedicated to photography during Art Basel week. Back then, it did not even cross my mind that I would work for photo basel one day. The fair has come a long way since then and I am excited to be a part of this ever-growing family of curators, gallerists, photographers/artists, and photography enthusiasts.

pb: Where do you see photo basel today?

aw: Since an art fair is oriented towards the global acting art market, it is oriented as to where current interests, preferences and maybe even trends are to be found. Through this positioning, an art fair can influence it to a certain extent. That is why it is all the more important that an art fair is not only guided by fast-moving preferences, but rather focuses on positions that are in a long-term sustainable process – and I see photo basel championing this role. In the past few years, I have realized the broad spectrum that photo baselbrings to light. The fair allows collectors and visitors alike, to discover new talent, engage with renowned artists, and also get a glimpse of classic photography. To me, the fair perfectly bridges the gap between generations, between collectors and admirers, between experts and amateurs.

pb: What is your vision for the upcoming fair?

aw: My vision for photo basel 2023 is to deepen and broaden the photography network around the fair and to extend its radius and reach: to build a platform, a community over the days during Art Basel week that actually extends the six days of the physical fair. photo basel is an integral member of the photography discourse – not only in Switzerland but also abroad - which goes live once a year and otherwise acts as an enabler and brings photography enthusiast together.

pb: Are there already any highlights that you are looking forward to?

aw: Of course, the fair is currently still in the process of development, but there are already one or two highlights that I am anticipating. For one, I'm looking forward to the various collaborations with artists, gallerists, institutions and sponsors – together we are going to build an exciting program for the upcoming fair. I can already provide a few teasers: We are thrilled to announce that in collaboration with WBB Galerie (Zürich), the special exhibition “Pure Photography: 20th Century Floral Masterworks” is going to be part of the upcoming edition of photo basel. On view will be rare vintage and contemporary black-and-white photographs by important American photographers of the so-called "West Coast Movement" around Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham and others – legendary pioneers who launched modern art photography from 1932. The works on display come from an exclusive Swiss private collection. In addition, Galerie Esther Woerdehoff and the Alex Kayser Foundation are going to present a spotlight on the Swiss (and Basel) photographer Alex Kayser (1949-2015). I am very much looking forward to this exhibition, which will showcase Kayser's unique work for the first time at an art fair. Interesting fact, I am no stranger to Alex Kayser’s work as I did my Master’s Thesis of his oeuvre at University of Zürich in 2019 – it is wonderful, that our paths now cross again.

pb: The past few years have shown an increase in digital interests like online fairs and exhibitions. How do you assess this change?

aw: Of course, digital initiatives and exhibitions have been crucial to surviving the pandemic and allowed many opportunities: one is no longer tied to one place but can see and experience an incredible amount virtually. As important as this is in many areas, I have to admit that I am a “seeing art in real life” person. There are things like seeing a wonderful vintage gelatin silver print face to face that a screen just cannot live up to.

pb: May you share with us some exhibitions and openings that you have recently visited and some you will see in the near future?

aw: I was in awe with the works in the exhibition “INGE MORATH HOMAGE” at Versicherungskammer Kulturstiftung's Kunstfoyer in München. The retrospective takes place on the occasion of the 100th birthday of Inge Morath and shows the captivating work of the first female magnum photographer. I also enjoyed the exhibition “Dancing with my Camera” with works by Dayanita Singh that were shown in the unique exhibition space Villa Stuck in Munich. In February, “Werner Bischof – Unseen Colour” will open at MASI Lugano (12.02–02.07.2023) – the exhibition was created in collaboration with the Werner Bischof Estate and also will be on display at Fotostiftung Schweiz in Winterthur later this year (26.08.2023—21.01.2024). Furthermore, the Bischof exhibition at Fotostiftung Schweiz will be accompanied by a parallel special exhibition on Rosellina Burri-Bischof that one cannot miss. As you can see, there are many exciting things coming up this year!

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photo basel’s 8th edition is set to open from June 13th – 18th, 2023, coinciding with Art Basel.

We encourage all galleries whose program includes photography-based art practices and works to apply for the June 2023 edition.

Interested galleries are asked to send an email to

application@photo-basel.com requesting our detailed application-kit.

Application deadline is February 28th, 2023.

https://www.photo-basel.com/information-and-application

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photo basel
June 13-18, 2023
Rebgasse 12-14
4058 Basel
(Volkshaus Basel)

www.photo-basel.com

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