Art Basel Paris opens and closes amid protests, Latin American culture wars, a Chinese celestial map—podcast
In this week's episode, Benjamin Sutton and Gareth Harris discuss Art Basel Paris ahead of the fair's closure, Ben Luke speaks to Buenos Aires-based correspondent Mercedes Ezquiaga, and Alexander Morrison sees a Chinese celestial map on show at the Warburg Institute in London.
Art Basel Paris commenced and concluded amidst protests, Latin American cultural disputes, and a Chinese celestial map, according to The Art Newspaper's podcast. The fair commenced as scheduled in Paris but was announced to conclude on Friday, not open as planned over the weekend. This week, The Art Newspaper's global editor-in-chief, Ben Sutton, and chief contributing editor, Gareth Harris, visited the fair prior to the weekend closure decision.
The podcast features insights from Mercedes Ezquiaga, The Art Newspaper's correspondent based in Buenos Aires, who discusses how Latin America is engaging in culture wars, particularly in Brazil where a "blue wave" is unfolding. The wave signifies right-wing governments taking control, often with backing from the US president, Donald Trump.
These cultural clashes are influencing various aspects of the fair and its satellite events. Lastly, "Blue China" Celestial Map by Yunyou Sanren, crafted in 1822, is the featured Work of the Week. This map is showcased in the Night Maps exhibition at the Warburg Institute in London, where John Tresch, one of the exhibition's curators, provides details to our digital editor, Alexander Morrison.
Written by urgent.news from The Art Newspaper's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
