Art has changed in all kinds of ways. The boundaries have become more fluid, acceptance in society has grown, more exhibition spaces have opened, the present is much more strongly represented in museums, and contemporary art has gained significance in universities, which are now teaching hundreds of young artists each year. This is also impacting on Swiss cultural policy, with larger budgets for the arts and new funding instruments.
Among the types of art being created at the moment, I would say that the medium of photography and the video art scene are the dominant ones. Many artists no longer limit themselves to one particular medium, instead exploring the many different options. At the same time, there is certainly a greater emphasis on social issues. One example was the RIVERHOOD exhibition curated by Josiane Imhasly at Art Forum Baloise Park, which examined how society interacts with nature and with rivers and streams.
In addition to supporting young artists by awarding the Baloise Art Prize, we purchase pieces of art for our collection. And as an institutional collector, we believe that we should offer support through various platforms, such as by giving opportunities to young curators. All this reflects one of the principles of our corporate culture, which is to foster talent. That is why we have taken the step of opening up our exhibition space to young curators.
In addition to the defined exhibition theme and the support of the experienced exhibition organiser, Frédérique Hutter, we provide the young curators with a comprehensive structure: a collection of around 2,000 works of art (from which at least one piece is to be shown in the exhibition), professional art handling, documentation, advertising, a network of contacts and related communications, all of which are part of Baloise’s commitment.
Art provides a space for reflection and a lens through which to view the world in a nuanced way. It enriches our lives and stimulates debate. Encouraging an understanding and enjoyment of art is as much a part of our corporate culture as the fostering of young and emerging talent that I mentioned earlier. A perfect match, I would say.
To meet the same needs that prompt us to continue collecting art today. An art commission, comprising interested employees and an advisor, selects works of art for the collection that are a good fit with the concept on behalf of their colleagues. The employees on the art commission thus form a link between art and the workforce. After receiving requests and suggestions from colleagues, they offer pieces from our collection. Art is one of the many ways in which Baloise shows its appreciation for its employees, who can choose an item from the collection for their office. And we have now taken this further at international level, with some of the works from our collection on display at Baloise in Luxembourg.
The 25th Baloise Art Prize will be awarded during the Art Basel fair in Basel in 2024. We are celebrating this milestone with an exhibition curated by Sarah Frauchiger that will run until the end of May 2024 and will feature artworks by prizewinners held in our collection. To coincide with Art Basel, we will then be running an exhibition curated by Geraldine Belmont and Alana Alireza.