This year in Basel, the Sigg Art Foundation, Digital Art Mile, TAEX, and Tezos have all come together to showcase NFTs, emphasizing the growing significance of digital art in the global art scene.
The Digital Art Mile, a cutting-edge digital art market held alongside the esteemed Art Basel, made its debut this year, serving as a platform for NFT-focused artists, collectors, and curators in the Swiss city. Rebgasse, near Messeplatz, was transformed into a lively hub for contemporary and historical digital art, hosting renowned galleries, NFT platforms, and artists. These participants gathered to present their collections at various exhibition venues, bridging the gap between traditional and digital art forms.
The inaugural Digital Art Mile, held from June 10-16, featured exhibitors like Objkt, fx(hash), Fellowship, MakersPlace, Cinello, RCM Galerie, ArtXCode, Office Impart, TAEX, Danae, Sigg Art Foundation, GENAP Collection, and Blackdove.
At the Sigg Art Foundation’s booth, established in 2020 by art collector Pierre Sigg, a groundbreaking exhibition showcased digital artists like Grégory Chatonsky, Justin Aversano, Ben Elliot, and Bernar Venet. Venet’s works were displayed in collaboration with Sotheby’s: EVENT, featuring a collection of 500 algorithmic artworks, a theme echoed in many other digital pieces at the event.
Chatonsky, known for integrating AI into art, presented an updated version of his installation “Terre Seconde,” generating a dynamic structure from internet-derived data points. Aversano, fresh from a world tour capturing human stories, exhibited his unique works in Basel, including photographs of twins from around the globe.
Elliot’s “Metaone,” a virtual reality project exploring futuristic paradises, was another highlight at the Sigg Foundation’s exhibition. Tezos Foundation introduced Objkt and fx(hash) platforms, emphasizing physical representations of digital art and fostering innovative curation in generative art.
Collaborations like @HOXID_ with @tesserart_xyz and Objkt with Analivia Cordeiro added depth to the presentations, engaging visitors in interactive experiences and generative NFTs on the Tezos blockchain. Other artists like Regina, Silveira, and Auriea Harvey also made significant contributions to the exhibition.
TAEX showcased a serene digital landscape from Krista Kim’s Continuum project, providing a space for mindfulness in a digital world. Fellowship organized an extensive survey of AI’s impact on art history, featuring works by prominent artists exploring the evolution of digital art.
Conferences at Kult.Kino Camera delved into topics like generative art and blockchain in the art world, while the screening of “What the Punk!” offered insights into the cultural significance of Cryptopunks. Overall, the collaborative efforts of the Sigg Art Foundation, Digital Art Mile, TAEX, and Tezos in Basel underscored the growing importance of digital art in the contemporary art landscape.