Notable highlights from Design Miami/ Basel 2021

Design Miami/Basel concluded its fifteenth edition last week with 26 galleries, 14 curios and 5 design-at-large exhibitions. Preview day attendance on 20 September almost matched pre-pandemic record numbers, showing renewed support for the return to in-person events after a short hiatus in 2020. Curated by Curatorial Director, Aric Chen, this year’s Design Miami/ Basel explored the thematic of Human Nature, exploring the evolving relationship between humans, nature and human nature. Many of the galleries and partners responded to the theme, exploring relationships with new materials, technology and our connections with the people around us.

“Last week we hosted a reunion of the world’s leading galleries, collectors, designers and architects after too long apart. The fair was as active and engaged as ever, with top of market sales, institutional acquisitions and much anticipation for the Miami, Shanghai and Doha fairs. We couldn’t be happier with the response and feel energized by the strength of the collectible design market,” shares Jennifer Roberts, CEO of Design Miami/Basel.

A standout for visitors was Shy Synchrony by DRIFT, presented by Design Miami/ and Superblue in Hall 1.0 - the entrance to Design Miami/ Basel. This immersive, multi-sensory work was inspired by the movement of plants as they respond to the sun and the moon - a process known as ‘nyctinasty’ - and became a place of calm and reflection.

Presented in a hybrid format for the first time, objects from the show floor were available to view and shop online. Visitors could also experience a virtual 3D tour of the fair, powered by Matterport, as well as curated tours highlighting standout works from the galleries. Design Miami/ Basel 2021 also incorporated DM/BX, Design Miami’s newly launched online design destination featuring one-of-a-kind pieces, limited-edition designs and newly-released works by celebrated and emerging designers. Design Miami/ Basel featured a dedicated booth with work by designers Laura Sattin and Diego Faivre that could be seen and shopped both online and in-person at the fair. “There are people and places that we miss when we stay away for too long, Design Miami/ is one of them. In Basel, I unveiled a new collection that embodies and represents the worldwide population: ‘State of the World.’ For a new state of mind,” shares designer Mathieu Lehanneur.

Curio

This year’s Curio presentations saw fourteen exhibitions exploring the cutting edge of design presented in fully-conceived environments. With a number of debut exhibitions amongst the Curios, standout presentations included a solo exhibition of works by artist and designer Lionel Jadot at Everyday Gallery created an immersive experience that illustrated Jadot’s upcycling instincts and “The Elevator” by New York-based designer Harry Nuriev which showcased a new collection of parametric furniture in a surreal, silver elevator environment that explored the idea of a lift as a room constantly in motion. Another first time exhibitor, Peter Blake Gallery, created an immersive site-specific exhibition of Amsterdam-based designer Germans Ermičs ‘Shaping Color’ series of ethereal pieces of glass furniture that straddle the line between functional design and art objects. While Danish designer Maria Bruunpresented her innovative contribution to the long history of classic Danish furniture design, Reflected Surroundings, reflected Bruun’s own fascination with the circle and the mirror, bringing her unique global perspective to the long history of traditional Danish design.

Talks Program

Presented by Doha Design District, the Design Miami/ Basel talks program also embraced the fair’s new hybrid format, offering both in-person and digital talks available to visitors around the world. Design Miami/ Basel also hosted a screening of the new documentary film, Breuer’s Bohemia by James Crump which surveys a collection of private homes designed by iconic architect-designer Marcel Breuer for his most politically progressive clients between the 1950s and 1970s. Talks are still available to watch now at designmiami.com.

Superblue

Taking over the 2,500 sqm Event Hall 1.0 at Design Miami/ Basel, Superblue, the new venture dedicated to producing, presented a standout multi-sensory experience featuring the Dutch artist duo DRIFT and a site-specific pavilion by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto designed in response to DRIFT’s installation. The largest of DRIFT's Shylights installations to date, Shy Synchrony filled Design Miami’s massive entrance hall, providing visitors a moment of synchrony with their immediate surroundings. Forest of Space, an elliptical pavilion by architect Sou Fujimoto conceived in response to DRIFT’s installation, recreated a dynamic forest that intervenes in the space and with the movement of visitors to Design Miami/ Basel. - the pavilion instilled a reconnection with nature and highlighted the interaction between viewers’ bodies and their surroundings.

Design Miami/ Doha 2022 Announced/

Design Miami/ has also announced a three-year partnership with Msheireb Properties to bring Design Miami/ to Doha, Qatar starting in Spring 2022. Msheireb Properties, the pioneering real estate development company behind the Doha Design District, is joining forces with Design Miami/ with the ambition to define Doha as a new global design hub. The Doha Design District will host the region’s first Design Miami/ Podium exhibition in Msheireb Properties’ flagship development project, Msheireb Downtown Doha.