Any other business

Last year, I didn't post any pictures of Paris's October art fairs, saying I wasn't excited enough to bother. Perhaps I was in a better mood this year. Fresh back from Greece and Italy, I took things easy, to avoid what, four years ago, I called 'art-fair fatigue,' and found both Art Basel Paris and Paris Internationale better than last October. I took some photos of things that caught my eye. This post shows photos of Art Basel. Photos of Paris Internationale are in a separate one . During the fairs, Cornelia Baltes had a solo show at Andrehn Schiptjenko's Paris branch, and they also had this nice display on their booth. I was glad to see she's 'back'. Intriguing to se Jean Claracq moving into ceramics, with nods to Babylon and perhaps the walls from Susa in the Louvre. Unusual for me to like anything by Magritte, but this one I did.

  In January 2022 it was announced that the FIAC, Paris's main international art fair for 47 years, had lost its 'slot' at the Grand Palais and would be replaced by Paris+ par Art Basel. One consequence of this, no doubt unnoticed by most but of direct interest to me, is that any Iranian galleries formerly at the FIAC can no longer participate: for fear of US sanctions, Art Basel's bank won't have them. But the gallery selection must have changed more widely, as (probably one example of several) I came across Gaga, who used to be at the FIAC as well, at Paris Internationale. The first 'edition' of the new fair, in October last year, was said to be quite a success, but I missed it, having mistimed my return from Greece. This year I was more careful about the dates, and was able to attend. I find, however, I don't have much to say. I had a good stroll round, but wasn't blown off my feet. Art Basel in Basel is more extensive and more spectacular. And I...