Monday, March 19, 2012

The Armory Show was Armored to Battle Basel

Why did I feel that my soul was not sucked out of my body at the Armory Show in NY as I did perusing the insanity that was Miami Basel?

Miamians ....errr... people from Miami, have an appreciation for being seen around art and culture. And because everything there is in excess, clearly being photographed around TONS of bad contemporary, wannabe ABEX paintings and Hirsts reveals "high culture."

To prove my point, Google "Miami art basel 2011" and you'll see mostly society pictures including P. Diddy in a zebra/leopard concoction. Google "Armory show ny 2012" and actual art will appear. Shocking.

The lack of fluidity in Miami Basel and the disconnected sequencing of art was more than disorienting... it was downright frustrating.

It takes the grid system of New York to clearly map out how an art fair should be run. The flow from Modern to Contemporary at the Armory Show made the art-viewing clear and logical.

I felt stifled and suffocated in the labyrinth of Miami... wading through layers and layers of mediocre art with a supremely high price tag was disheartening to say the least.

As a native NY'er, I am proud to say that in the battle between Armory and Miami Basel, the reigning champion was a fair that logistically made sense and did not overwhelm one's senses.

One of the many reasons I Art New York.

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