SUMMER SCHOOL
AA Architectural Association School of Architecture, London
University of Basel, Urban Studies, MA Critical Urbanisms
THE MATERIALITY OF ART FAIRS
AAVS BASEL / ART BASEL
13-23 June 2023
Hosted by the Architectural Association Visiting School program, in collaboration with the Urban Studies division at the University of Basel.
Read More About the Summer School
CLIMATE URBANISM
EXPLORING THE CONTROVERSIAL INTERSECTION OF ART AND CLIMATE
SYSTEMIC CHANGE IN ART FAIRS
ART FAIRS ARE EVOLVING IN RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL CLIMATE CRISIS
CURATING CLIMATE CHANGE: DEMOBILIZING ART
THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF THE ART INDUSTRY
The globalized art market and the fast-paced nature of art fairs—where attendees aim to view as many works as possible in the shortest amount of time—have introduced significant challenges. This model not only heightens the pressures on artists and institutions but also compels cities to accommodate these events, contributing to the broader climate crisis.
This paper critically examines art fairs, with potential extensions to biennials, triennials, and exhibitions, through the lens of climate change. It explores the social and environmental implications of mobilizing art and people from across the globe, converging briefly for these mega-events. The analysis aims to uncover the complex interplay between the art world and the urgent need for sustainable practices.
PARK YOUR PROVATE JETS AND TAKE THE TRAIN
BREAKING DOWN ART FAIRS TO MEASURE UP ON SUSTAINABILITY
The climate emergency is taking center stage in the art fair circuit, drawing attention to the environmental toll of private jets, carbon footprints, and large-scale temporary events.
As art collectors increasingly view art as an investment, art fairs continue to report record-breaking prices. While art's appeal grows among investors, it is essential for them to recognize and address the environmental impact of art collecting and the sustainability challenges posed by art fairs.
CARBON FOOTPRINTS
ARE THE BIGGEST TRADE EVENTS DOING ENOUGH TO CLEAN UP THEIR ACT?
Frieze: "The climate emergency is the biggest issue of our times."
Art Basel: "We are developing long-term strategies to reduce our direct carbon emissions and improve the broader environmental impact of our shows."
Both Frieze and Art Basel are members of the Gallery Climate Coalition (GCC), committed to reducing their carbon emissions by at least 50% in line with the Paris Agreement and achieving zero waste by 2030. Founded in 2019 by a group of gallerists and art professionals, the GCC provides guidelines to make the art market more sustainable.
"Art fairs truly are the modern festival, a theatre of things and money—but the majority of the things on stage at art fairs do aspire to a state of permanence. A subdued atmosphere persisted throughout the fair, inviting one to wonder—Is everyone tired?" —Laura McLean-Ferris
ENERGY-HUNGRY EVENTS
IS THE ART WORLD DOING ENOUGH TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS?
Letzte Generation, the German activist group behind the protest, stated afterward: “The painting was not damaged in the action. Quite in contrast to the immeasurable suffering that floods, storms, and droughts are already bringing upon us today as harbingers of the impending catastrophe.”
Aimée van Baalen, a spokesperson for the group, added: “Monet loved nature and captured its unique and fragile beauty in his works. How is it that so many are more afraid of damaging one of these images of reality than of the destruction of our world itself—the magic of which Monet admired so much?”
Andrew Stramentov echoed these sentiments, stating: “The art world might be resistant to change, but there is a growing consensus that people want and need to act. The system has been grossly inefficient, and everyone knows it.”
UNDER ONE ROOF
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THESE MEGA EVENTS—FROM ENERGY USE, SHIPPING, AND TRAVEL TO BUILDING, CONSTRUCTION, AND PACKAGING—IS IMMENSE. BUT IS IT DISCUSSED ENOUGH?
EuroAirport near Basel records up to 300 additional business jet flights annually during Art Basel, despite the availability of convenient train connections from nearby cities.
Art Basel is expected to attract over 90,000 visitors in 2023. In recent years, the event has generated approximately 500–600 additional aircraft movements, including numerous flights from cities such as Paris.
This surge in air travel directly contradicts Art Basel’s stated sustainability goals. The organization highlights its commitment to reducing carbon emissions, stating on its website that it is actively developing initiatives to minimize its environmental footprint.
WASTE
ART FAIRS HAVE NOT COLLABORATED TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT—BUT IS THIS LACK OF ACTION RECEIVING ENOUGH SCRUTINY?
As temporary events that bring together exhibitors and visitors, art fairs face unique sustainability challenges. Many materials used are custom-made, making it difficult to reuse them effectively. Insurance companies and customs agencies often mandate the use of new materials for crates and packaging, further complicating sustainability efforts. As significant players in the industry, art fairs have a responsibility to adopt environmentally conscious practices and create pathways to sustainable operations.
While shipments by sea are far more environmentally friendly than air freight, they require time and flexibility—luxuries that exhibitors often cannot afford. The primary goal of an art fair is to sell art, meaning that exhibitors ideally hope their works won’t return with them. This dynamic frequently leads to discarded materials and waste once the fair concludes.
Olav Velthuis explains: “Just think of the shipping of works of art around the globe for temporary exhibitions, the packed travel schedules of curators, artists, collectors, and dealers to openings of biennials, museum shows, or other global art world events. Or think of the large-scale temporary structures that are erected to host dozens of art fairs globally, and dismantled no more than a week later. The global art system may be insignificant in comparison to the world economy, but given its small size, its carbon footprint is disproportionately large.”
Kate Brown highlights another critical issue: “When it comes to the art in Basel, the issue of climate change just isn’t moving the conversation. Nearly every gallerist I spoke to said that collectors are just not that interested in climate change as a topic.”
ART IS HARMING
The questions surrounding the art world's carbon footprint are deeply uncomfortable for many. In fact, as visitors filed into Art Basel on the fair’s first public day, students and young artists staged a performance outside the fair to raise climate awareness. The action was organized by the Paris-based foundation Art of Change 21. Professionals travel around the world multiple times a year, often for trips lasting less than a week, and the entire supply and demand chain necessitates that art be shipped from one place to another, usually as quickly as possible.
Dealer Kate MacGarry acknowledged that environmentally-conscious art does not always align with business interests due to its didactic stigma. During a panel at Art Basel Conversations called “Talk About the Weather,” which addressed how artists and institutions can use their platforms to engage with ecological issues, MacGarry elaborated: “Our current way of working is not sustainable, and we need to make changes. It would be nice to see Art Basel do more with this, instead of just their partner BMW showcasing an electric car,” referring to the company's emissions-free range. “No one is exempt from this, and the wealthier you are, the more responsible you are. Everyone at a place like Art Basel is complicit.”
WE NEED TO ACT
Global warming is progressing rapidly. As of March 2023, the Earth's temperature has risen by 1.1 degrees compared to the pre-industrial era. The effects are already being felt: extreme weather, including major droughts, storms, and floods, is causing immense damage, costing human lives, endangering biodiversity, and depleting drinking water. Some regions of the world will become uninhabitable due to climate change.
Art fairs must acknowledge the urgent need for action in relation to the global climate crisis and recognize their duty to take responsibility for social, environmental, and economic issues, making conscious contributions to sustainability efforts. With this in mind, they must work intensively to improve their ecological footprint. There is still much to learn, and many more steps to take in order to communicate their goals, plans, and actions transparently.
International art fairs must use their public platform to encourage others to take action as well, fostering a more climate-friendly fair for both visitors and exhibitors. We must also create sustainability guidelines for exhibitors and continue researching additional ways to make their participation more environmentally conscious. Additionally, special projects on environmental resilience should be hosted.
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