Beneath convolution rests clarity—raw, naked and pure. In art, such elements clearly reflect and speak to the human soul. A departure from the colorful art-fair extravagance, one South Beach hotel has eliminated the usual embellishments to offer Art Baselers a glimpse into the captivating, organic fusion of exposed nature and the human form.
Sagamore, The Art Hotel, on Miami Beach, along with its owner, art collector and curator Cricket Taplin, proudly presents FUNDAMENTAL, 2012, highly edited Selections from the Cricket Taplin Collection. The property-wide exhibition, on display during Art Basel Miami Beach 2012, celebrates the essential and provocative aspects of nature, life and culture.
FUNDAMENTAL 2012 disarms the viewer with a cohesive presentation of understated magnificence. Commonalities— natural hues, simple shapes and textures, unaltered lighting, and organic materials—link each piece to the exhibition’s theme of fundamentalism. Each artwork included boldly portrays the core elements of its subject. The conceptual focus of the collection highlights the bonds between nature and its offspring—the human form. Significant attention is paid to the symbol of all beginnings, the female body, and the elemental extremes of black and white.
The exhibit features cultural standouts like Emil Lukas, whose work relates to the perception of pressure and form in a constant investigation of structure and materials. The renowned artist’s four pieces within FUNDAMENTAL, “Bulge,” “Anatomy of Amber Curve,” “Moon,” and “Wrap,” tell the story of pressure—created both by universal forces and man. On loan from the Sperone Westwater Gallery, the pieces feature strong representations of physicality and are made of organic materials including wood, thread, wax and jute.
Demonstrating the intertwining of man and environment, Michele Oka Doner’s “Sargassa,” 2008—an eight-foot tall relief print on handmade paper from plant pulp—presents an imaginary goddess of the sea from the artist’s ongoing personal mythology into human form captured by oceanic entities such as algae and seaweeds.
Highlighting FUNDAMENTAL’s gender inspiration, Christina Petersson’s massive, 72″ x 96″ graphite on paper, “I Will Still Be Here, Long after the Kingdom Cometh,” 2011, shares an impactful message of a woman’s connection to nature—fierce and corporal.
Capturing natural sensuality, Beatriz Millar’s video piece “Lux Matter” offers a journey—via a captivating video set to classical music –into the female power of creation in the preparation of bread and its offering as nourishment, a human fundamental need. The piece captures iconic reflections of female sexuality, natural wonders and the transformation of elements. Additionally, the piece investigates female roles and the borders between art and craft.
Adding to FUNDAMENTAL’s strength is a showcase of pure yet provoking photography from world renowned artists including Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Diane Arbus, Morris Engel, Walker Evans, Elliott Erwitt, Lee Friedlander, Graciela Iturbide, Helen Levitt, Martin Parr, Charles Pratt, Walter Rosenblum, Joe Schwartz, Louis Stettner, and Francesca Woodman. The artworks by Melissa Dubbin and Aaron S. Davidson, Jacopo Foggini, Rashawn Griffin, Tom Lieber, Mike and Doug Starn, and Shoshana Weinberger will also be featured within the exhibition.
In tradition, Sagamore, The Art Hotel, is hosting their Annual Art Basel Brunch on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2012. For the most sought-after Art Basel event of the season, the hotel partners with six local museums including the Bass Museum of Art, Lowe Art Museum, Miami Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, The Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Art at FIU, and the Wolfsonian-FIU.
“This year’s collection is outstanding in its pureness and gathering of extraordinary talent,” said Cricket Taplin. “The pieces evoke innate reactions and will connect visitors to primary instincts. We present a refreshing, natural experience that will encourage individuals to reflect on the links between man and environment.”
For further property and/or Art Basel exhibition information, call 305 535 8088 or visit SagamoreHotel.com.