Tour suggestion by Kwaku Opoku

We asked a number of local personalities to name the venues and events they will be visiting during the Kunsttage Basel. The third tour suggestion comes from Kwaku Opoku.

Maybe it’s because I’m a multidisciplinary artist, but a huge part of me loves to see an ample integration of multiple forms of art, seamlessly working together. Fortunately, Kunsttage exists to offer a wide and diverse array of exhibitions, so this feeling of immense difference in concepts, styles, and approaches to art is innately felt throughout the festival.

Nonetheless, although this may be a personal bias, I’m very interested in being immersed in specific spaces that use this plurality to enhance the experience of visitors and onlookers. Simply put, this year I’m looking to be in spaces that try to activate all my senses in various ways; from sound to taste – sparking and unlocking tucked-away memories.

Touching on memory, it would be great to check out both “Salle noire” by Davide-Christelle Sanvee at kHaus and “Greetings” by Yann Gross at Wilde Gallery. They both have the ability to transport you into different worlds while being super reflective in their approach. “Greetings” specifically does well at being quite diverse in what it addresses, making it even more interesting.

Concerning sound, I think it’s often unfortunately and typically associated only with entertainment and performance, so many find it difficult to ‘see’ sound as an art form on its own and not just music meant to be performed for an audience. However, “WIRELESS” by Rodrigo Toro Madrid at Ausstellungsraum Klingental and “Tools for Change” at HEK (House of Electronic Arts) explore sound through technology in a fascinating way because they both subtly comment on where we currently are in the world through the continual development and advancement of technology. This is quite arguably what all of these exhibitions I’ve mentioned have in common: their ability to comment on where we are as a society and, subtly through art, either present solutions or reimagine what the future could look like.

So as a suggestion, maybe start at HEK, then head down to Wilde Gallery, then Ausstellungsraum Klingental. I know it may make more sense to go to kHaus after Wilde Gallery, but I think you’ll have more fun ending at kHaus, where you’ll have more options for drinks, food, and a good vibe after you’re done touring.