Inside the Digital Art Mile’s Debut During Art Basel in Switzerland

While digital art’s footprint remains nascent at and around Art Basel’s namesake fair in Switzerland, this year’s edition saw several encouraging signs with stronger attendance by the web3 community than in any year prior.

In a nod to digital art’s growing influence, Art Basel itself held two events aimed at engaging the digital art community: a digital art meetup featuring remarks by CEO Noah Horowitz and Chief Digital Officer Craig Hepburn and a “Digital Dialogues” panel series featuring artists like Refik Anadol, Krista Kim and Sasha Stiles. Anadol also debuted a new immersive work at the fair entitled “Inner Portrait,” in collaboration with Turkish Airlines, complete with uniformed attendants handing out Turkish delights and coffee.

Outside the fair, ArtMeta’s The Digital Art Mile organized a series of digital art exhibitions and events across several Basel venues between June 10 and 16. Created by art advisor Georg Bak and ArtMeta founder Roger Haas, the Digital Art Mile’s debut edition featured exhibitions by Sotheby’s, Fellowship, Objkt, fx(hash), TAEX, Makersplace, Artxcode, RCM Galerie, Cinello, and Danae, as well as conference programs and events hosted by the likes of CryptoPunks, Sigg Art Foundation, and the Tezos Foundation.

With speakers ranging from artists ThankYouX, IX Shells, and Analivia Cordeiro to collectors Ryan Zurrer (who hosted his own Dialectic Summer Jam event to kick off the week), Daniel Maegaard (Seedphrase), and beautyandthepunk, the program offered a decentralized assortment of events that were decidedly separate from the main fair but succeeded in bringing many notable web3 figures to Basel for the first time.

As a media partner for the Digital Art Mile, nft now presented a screening of Operator’s documentary “Performing the System,” followed by a conversation with the artist duo moderated by co-founder, CEO and editor-in-chief Matt Medved.

nft now caught up with Bak following the event to reflect on its debut and digital art’s rising tide during this year’s Basel edition.

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nft now: What was the origin story of the Digital Art Mile during Art Basel?

Georg Bak: The collaboration with Roger Haas began during the second edition of NFT ART DAY in Zurich, where our display of artworks at Kunsthaus Zurich marked the start of an exhilarating journey. Realizing our synergy, we decided to bring something unprecedented to Basel—a dedicated event focused solely on digital art. It was thrilling to find the perfect location near Messeplatz. As we strolled through Rebgasse, we envisioned transforming multiple gallery spaces into a vibrant digital art experience. Kult Kino Camera became the ideal venue for our conference program, while Space 25 and Space 31 emerged as exceptional spots for showcasing digital art. With Fellowship and Sigg Art Foundation hosting remarkable exhibitions at Space 25, and leading digital art platforms such as TAEX, objkt, fx(hash), and MakersPlace setting up stunning booths, the event took shape magnificently. Our vision was powered by the enthusiastic support of the Tezos Foundation and community, and through their dedicated team.

Share some thoughts and observations on the inaugural edition. Any surprises?

The inaugural edition exceeded our wildest expectations. The overwhelming support from the community and the eagerness of galleries to participate was exhilarating. It was astonishing to witness the influx of web3 enthusiasts, artists, and collectors who flocked to the event and conferences. For many, it was their first visit to Basel, adding to the excitement and energy of the city of Basel.

Many members of the digital art community were visiting Basel for the first time. What do you attribute this growing footprint to?

The Digital Art Mile rapidly gained traction, creating a buzz across Twitter and web3 conferences. The anticipation and FOMO surrounding the event convinced many to book last-minute flights to Basel, despite the challenge of fully booked and expensive hotels. The event’s growing footprint is a testament to the community’s enthusiasm and the dynamic conversations about digital art.

As an art advisor, what trends are you seeing at the intersection of the digital and traditional art worlds?

I think we have moved beyond the acronym NFT and are now focusing more on digital art itself. The technology behind NFTs is still quite amazing and facilitates the trade of digital art. At the Digital Art Mile, I noticed many artworks were phygitals, including prints, tapestries, and installations. There is a strong interest in historical digital art, such as plotter drawings from the 1960s, early Amiga art from the 1980s, and the net art movement of the 1990s. Collectors are eager to learn about the history of digital art and are collecting not only contemporary pieces but also digital art within a broader context.

“Collectors are eager to learn about the history of digital art and are collecting not only contemporary pieces but also digital art within a broader context.”

GEORG BAK

Additionally, there is a growing interest in the recent evolution of AI in art. Fellowship has especially showcased historical works from 2015, including the first GANs by Gene Kogan, the first Deep Dream artworks by Alexander Mordvintsev, the first DALL-E artworks by Holly Herndon and Mat Dryhurst, and the first-ever text-to-image prompted works by Elman Mansinov. These are undoubtedly grails of digital art that will make their mark in art history books.

What are your plans for ArtMeta and the event going forward?

We are committed to establishing the Digital Art Mile as an annual highlight in Basel’s art scene, with plans for pop-up events in other cities. Our focus remains on contextualizing digital art and enhancing education around it, making this innovative form of art more accessible and engaging for a broader audience.