PİLEVNELİ are pleased to announce our participation in Basel Social Club 2025 with Ryan Gander!
Now entering its fourth edition, the Basel Social Club, taking place from June 15 to 21, 2025, presents a vibrant alternative to the traditional art fair experience during Art Basel week. Renowned for its unique blend of art, social interaction, and entertainment, this event is free of charge and welcomes all to join.
This year, the venue is a beautifully restored former private bank located in the heart of Basel. Steeped in history, its origins date back to Celtic times, boasting a rich legacy of private banking that extends into the 18th century. For the first time, this expansive 3,000-square-foot space, featuring over 70 unique rooms, will open its doors to the public, allowing visitors to explore its intricate architecture as a canvas for contemporary art.
In a compelling exploration of the conceptual and tangible dimensions of this newly activated site, PİLEVNELİ showcases two remarkable pieces by Ryan Gander that engage deeply with the historical and symbolic connotations of the venue. Gander's work examines the poetics of objects and the unseen dynamics that shape perception, aligning with a venue once defined by secrecy, value, and exclusion, while presenting objects that challenge clarity and resolution.
One notable piece, "A toppled Adirondack chair after a snowfall" (2022), serves as a poignant exploration of displacement and the enduring impact of unseen forces. Crafted entirely from delicate glass, the chair evolves into a silent monument to disruption. The fused glass frit emulates freshly fallen snow, capturing a moment of tranquil disarray.
The second installation, "I be… (lxiii)" (2023), showcases a mirror, typically a space for introspection, obscured beneath a draped cloth, which is not merely temporary but eternally fashioned from cold marble. Rather than safeguarding, the marble obstructs and negates the mirror's purpose. The act of gazing is postponed indefinitely. This encapsulation implies a fusion of preservation, negligence, and denial.
Gander’s involvement in the Basel Social Club 2025 enriches discussions around objects in transitional phases—oscillating between usability and obsolescence, familiarity and alienation. Instead of providing straightforward resolutions, his works encourage visitors to contemplate the concealed, the fluid, and the narratives that remain untold within objects.
