Art in the hub of Banking and Diplomacy
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As a haven for banking and NGOs, Geneva sometimes gets a bad rap for being a bit staid and very expensive. But the city’s lovely setting favors those who love the outdoors and its fine art scene is growing. On that last point, in late January art lovers wilArt in the hub of Banking and Diplomacy
As a haven for banking and NGOs, Geneva sometimes gets a bad rap for being a bit staid and very expensive. But the city’s lovely setting favors those who love the outdoors and its fine art scene is growing. On that last point, in late January art lovers will flock to Geneva for artgeneve, an international art fair founded in 2002 by Thomas Hug.Hug studied music in Berlin but, shortly after graduating, was drawn into the social circles of artists, collectors, gallerists and soon started his own gallery. After exhibiting at the circuit of top art fairs, he wanted to start his own and founded artgeneve in his hometown. Hug discussed his entry into the art world, his relationship to music, and the new sectors in artgeneve with BLOUIN ARTINFO. artgeneve takes place at Palexpo from January 31 to February 3.How did you first get involved in the art world?Socially. My life before this was music. I studied musicology and classical piano in Berlin. In Berlin, I came closer to this world of Contemporary art in a social way — going to galleries, parties. I related to the art world and, for me, that was something absolutely new because I had only studied dead artists, composers from the past and it was magical for me to see all this contemporaneity in the world. I started a gallery with a friend in Berlin with a strong music program. We did all the important art fairs – Art Basel, Frieze, Los Angeles. After five years, I had the feeling to start my own art fair in Geneva.What do you mean when you say you had a feeling to start your own art fair? Did you see an opening? Did you want to do fairs differently?Yes, absolutely. Participating as a gallerist, I had a view of the reality of this activity. For me, it was simply that Geneva was a perfect place for an art fair. More personally, I was looking for a global activity. The gallery business is fascinating, but it is very particular.Was there a strong art community already established in Geneva that gave you the confidence that you could pull off an art fair?When I last lived in Geneva, I was not at all in this world. When I came back, I had no relations in the art world. I noticed that the collector base is very strong here, not only in Geneva, but in Romandy, the French-speaking part of Switzerland. And they were supportive of the fair.In terms of museums and institutions in Geneva, the developments in the past years have been quite interesting, you could notice a common wish to develop artistic activity. This is not a city of galleries. But that’s also a reason why I think the fair is quite successful. Art fairs are often developing work in places without many galleries.What can visitors expect from this year’s edition of the art fair?When we started in 2002, we tried to start a new fair, but also a new concept of a fair. Our concept was of a salon, “meeting room” in French, [and it] is very present in this edition. [We] have commercial galleries of course, around 90, but we also have a lot of curated projects and institutional presence. Between 20-30 non-commercial shows are presented this year. So, more than ever, we have a dialogue between the art market and the institutional world.You talked about the museum scene developing. What is an art and non-art museum you would recommend?MAMCO (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art) is absolutely great. The new director, Lionel Bovier, has been there for two years. For a non-art museum, I would say Fondation Martin Bodmer. [It’s] for everything that is written, so they have a lot of manuscripts dating back to the origins of humanity. They have unique pieces of the Bible, of Beethoven’s scores, things like that.For those who might have an extra day, is there a nearby town you’d recommend for a day trip?The city is not big, but it is very international. Geneva is also quite attractive because of the nature and, in my eyes, it is absolutely wonderful. During the art fair, we have a lot of VIP people who stop at the fair and then go to the mountains to ski.I forgot to mention one thing that is important in my eyes. The new sector we developed is in design with PAD, Parisian Art + Design. During Frieze in London, we started a collaboration with them. So now, in Geneva, we have not only Contemporary and Modern art, but collectible design and primitive art. https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more