Just after midnight, artist Kanye West gave an impromptu listening party for his upcoming album Yeezus at Design Miami/ Basel in the Herzog and de Meuron-designed Hall 1 Sud at Basel’s Messeplatz.
Mr. West, whose album drops next week, said in an interview with The New York Times that the biggest inspiration for this new record was the pioneering and revered modern architect Le Corbusier, whose work is being shown here at Galerie Patrick Seguin.
More than 2000 guests from the design, art, fashion and architecture communities crowded around an intimate stage set in the center of the Event Hall sparsely adorned with several sculptural chairs by Ric Owens, being shown by Design Miami/ Basel exhibitor Salon 94.
Mr. West suprised the audience by performing one track from the album a capella at the urging of the crowd, which included Simon De Pury; Jeannie Rohatyn; Hans Ulrich Obrist; Rodman Primack; Soumaya and Fernando Romero; brothers Nicki and Simon Haas; Maria Baibakova; Jacques Lacoste; Rene Kamm, CEO of MCH Group; and Design Miami/ founder Craig Robins.
PHOTO CREDIT: Seth Browarnik for Design Miami/ Basel