Everyone is currently expressing solidarity with Ukraine. To what extent does the Art Fair Basel list go beyond symbolic action?
The important thing was that our Eastern European galleries contacted me just a few days after the start of the war.
From the beginning we discussed how we can support Ukraine.
This has resulted in various projects: the appeal for donations, the film program curated in Ukrainian or the stand presentations that have been expanded to include Ukrainian artists.
And, of course, the invitation to the Kiev galleries The Naked Room and Voloshyn.
Is such commitment easier to implement for a non-commercial trade fair? Since this year, the list has been supported by a foundation.
We have a small structure, so we were able to react quickly to the war.
Overall, the idea of the list as a non-profit organization is supportive, and helping was probably in our genes.
The main thing is to give young artists and gallery owners from all over the world a platform.
Therefore, after the outbreak of war, it was natural for us to do the same for the Ukrainian art scene.
The endowment money was used to support galleries that have included Ukrainian positions in their programmes, such as LC Queisser from Tiflis or Sandwich from Bucharest.
Our foundation covers production costs if a gallery needs it.
As far as Ukraine is concerned, we have also provided special and retrospective support.
The other fund is the "Friends of List", who gave extra money for the Ukrainian projects.
This grant is usually intended for outstanding, lavish and risky presentations, so it also benefits other galleries.
In what price range are the young and new discoveries this time?
That ranges from a few hundred to twenty or thirty thousand francs.
What effect does your round interior design have?
When we knew in 2021 that we would have to do a pandemic edition, it was clear that we couldn't stay in our cramped building in the Warteck.
The exhibition hall where we are now is architecturally the opposite, and I thought: What is the most important thing that we would like to take with us to a new place?
It's the sense of community, of spending time together, getting to know each other, creating lifelong connections, maybe sharing artists.
I briefed our architectural office accordingly.
This is how the circle emerged as the all-connecting form.
Was your view as a former gallery owner used?
I used to take part in the list myself and I understand the needs of gallery owners very well.
They call it “democratic” when – like here in our circle – all galleries have more or less the same conditions.
That goes down very well.
But you can't compare this hall situation with our previous location in a former brewery with many different rooms.
It has not yet been decided where we will be in the long term.
We have been here at the exhibition center for the last two years due to the pandemic.
What is different after the pandemic?
You can tell that the young generation of artists is reflecting on the uncertainty that the pandemic has triggered in them.
At the moment it's very much about examining where you locate yourself: somewhere in between reality and fiction.
At many exhibition stands you can see something fragile, which at the same time shows new perspectives.
Liste Art Fair
, Messe Basel, until June 19, admission 20 francs