Art Basel opens its doors to public
The world's premier international art show for modern and contemporary works, the annual Art Basel, opened its doors on Wednesday in the northern Swiss city.
It features more than 300 leading galleries from around the world as well as 2,500 artists, ranging from the great masters of modern art to the latest generation of emerging stars.
The exhibition, which attracted almost 60,000 people in 2008, includes paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations, photographs, video and editioned works.
Art Basel, which is now in its 40th year, attracts art collectors, art dealers, artists, curators and other art enthusiasts.
Works costing a few thousand Swiss francs by emerging artists will be on display alongside masterpieces priced in the millions.
Organisers say one of the most “spectacular” events will be the presentation of Il Tempo del Postino (Postman Time), which is experimental art on the theatre stage performed by a group of the world’s leading visual artists.
Basel is currently hosting major art exhibitions devoted to Vincent van Gogh and to the Swiss Giacometti family. Art Basel runs till June 14.
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