Soff launch for ‘interdimensional artist’
The Zero 10 section at Art Basel dedicated to digital art opened earlier this week drawing large crowds—and rather more ethereal beings. We spotted a figure, for instance, dressed in fairy-like clothing and going by the rather fetching name of Soff. Who are you exactly, Soff (we enquired)? According to a booklet, she is “an interdimensional artist from the Soff Multiverse [who] visits the human world every now and then”. She also revealed that she is building a game machine where you can create your own “post-human body”. Soff was right at home in Zero 10, which she professed to love. “Where is the future?” she asked. Where, indeed.
Hockney’s famous badge, worn by a journalist in Basel—a jolly reminder of the artist’s ethos The Art Newspaper
(Smoky) spirit of Hockney lives on in Basel
The death of David Hockney has had a ripple effect across Art Basel, with artists, collectors and curators honouring the late Pop art pioneer in a number of endearing ways. We spotted an anonymous Brit artist smoking in a dark recess of the Messeplatz, who told us with glee that “David flew the flag for us smokers. Bless!” Another affectionate thumbs up could be seen on a badge worn by a journalist that states: “End bossiness soon.” This basic and beautiful nugget was one of Hockney’s favourite maxims. Indeed, in today’s aggressive and turbulent times, we all need to be far less pushy and generally just nice. RIP, David.
Hotbling2Go is bringing a bit of sparkle to fairgoers at Basel Social Club The Art Newspaper
Pick up some shinies for your pearlies
The hip young (and old) things of the art world continue to descend on the
art fair alternative Basel Social Club, sampling various cultural and esoteric delights across the multistorey office building, including a social wellness hub and live spray-tan applications. Another talking point is a service offering “tooth gems” that are glued to your gnashers. “Hotbling2Go is offering live tooth gem applications, fully customisable to your style. No reservations required: walk in, pick a gem, and leave with a little extra sparkle,” says the website, which offers a “Swarovski Round” from SFr45. After a hard day’s art buying/selling/gossiping, it’s the surefire way to get that sparkle back in your smile.
Angharad Williams’s work shows the princess in her “black sheep” jumper Photo: Joanna Wilk; courtesy of the artist and Fanta-MLN, Milan
Diana’s (not so) faded beauty turns heads
The UK’s Diana, Princess of Wales died in 1997 but she lives on at this year’s Art Basel. A series by the Welsh artist Angharad Williams of successively fading untitled portraits of the late royal, bedecked in her favourite “black sheep” jumper, is making waves on the stand of the Milan-based gallery Fanta-MLN. “As the Princess of Wales, Diana made an impact on Angharad, who continues to research class, her Welsh national identity and the royal family as a non-democratic institution,” says Gloria de Risi, the gallery co-owner. A blurred image of the same figure and jumper on the opposite wall, called Diana (2026), makes this an even more intriguing presentation, highlighting further the untimely death of the princess.
The sky’s the limit for private airport show
Fasten your seatbelts… the Paris-based gallery Lo Brutto Stahl is showing works at Basel’s private airport again, which will hopefully catch the eye of all those collectors hopping off their swanky jets en route to the fair. The third iteration of Air Service Basel 2026 (until 21 June) features pieces by 41 artists including Franz Erhard Walther, Manon Wertenbroek and Quay Quinn Wolf. The gallery co-founders, Pablo Stahl and Vincent Lo Brutto, say the format operates at a different pace from the fairs; the gallery has meanwhile made the Basel airport location into a permanent space. Collectors: brace, brace!
