Art Basel Miami 2017

Jacob Hashimoto

The Near Emptiness of Space, Perfect Timing and the Clutch of Gravity - 2017

Wood, Acrylic, Bamboo, Paper and Dacron 

Rhona Hoffman Gallery - Art Basel 2017 

Art Basel week in Miami is probably the best time to be in Miami...At least for me. I always enjoy the energy all around town. The whole city transforms into this colorful, energetic vibrant place filled with amazing art pieces to see. It's truly inspiring. I was honored this year to visit this amazing art on behalf of Art NXT Level. I'm extremely grateful to Artist, Curator, Gallerist, Creative Entrepreneur and friend, Sergio Gomez for giving me this amazing opportunity. You can see all the images and my picks HERE on Art NXT Level Journal.

I strongly believe if you are in the Art field, you need to make a trip to Miami during Art Basel week, even if it is for the weekend it is surely worth it. For me, it has so many advantages and I have been trying to be there every year since I moved to the US. As an artist, you will be able to see many amazing works from artists around the world, get inspired by some, see what is hot in the current art market and also make some great connections.

This year’s Art Miami fair was amazing. I really enjoyed Art Basel itself located at the Miami Convention Center. Compared to the previous years, the layout had improved, the lighting was done right and overall made it easier for viewers to navigate around.

Untitled Art Fair was also one of my favorites this year. The venue is located by the beach and since it’s a relatively smaller fair, it is easy to navigate through and see everything but also the quality of art itself there has always been great. It was an honor to represent Art Nxt Level and I could not be more grateful for this opportunity.

I also visited Aqua Art Miami which is located in the Aqua Hotel. Art Miami had also some amazing pieces on view.

The only fair I did not have time sadly this time was NADA “New Art Dealers Alliance” and I heard really great things – but every year that is the one to see and sadly due to traffic I was not able to make enough time to see it this year.

Leaving Miami post Art Basel, I feel inspired, energetic and ready to work some new ideas and inspirations. I need to start planning for my next year’s visit soon and I urge everyone to do the same…

Feel free to read some of the highlights from my trip specially selected for Art NXT Level Journal HERE. 

See you at Art Basel Miami 2015

  Art Basel stages the world's premier modern and contemporary art fairs.  It is staged annually in Basel, Miami Beach, and Hong Kong. A driving force in supporting the role that galleries play in nurturing the careers of their artists, Art Basel frequently expands its platforms to include the newest developments in the visual arts.  Being able to visit Art Basel Miami has always been on top of my list and now It's with pleasure to announce that one of my pieces will be shown at Spectrum Miami during Art Basel 2015. Spectrum is a juried, contemporary art fair in the heart of Midtown Miami featuring an international slate of artists and galleries. It’s where contemporary meets extraordinary. My piece was chosen to be part of spectrum as part of a competition though Artavita online Magazine, which is part of the Worldwide Art Book company in Santa Barbara, CA. What better way to see Miami for the first time than being there doing Art Basel, see some amazing art pieces from all over the world, mingle with friends, connect with new ones. Mark your calendars and come look for my piece at Spectrum Miami tent, from 2-6 December 2015 located at 1700 NE 2nd ave, Miami - World Wide Art/Artavita, booth 520.

The title of this piece is a quote by Rumi "Close your eyes, fall in love, stay there" and it is 12x12 inches, mixed media on wood panel. Below is a brief statement on my art pieces.

"When I Found Love, I Became Immortal"-Rumi (13 CE)

In my pieces I merge traditional Iranian art forms with a contemporary sensibility. In combining Farsi calligraphy and Islamic architectural designs with mixed media (including resin and gold leaf) and bold lines and framing, I try to affirm the enduring aesthetic of a culture that is too often represented through the limited lenses of war and political turmoil. The meticulous composition of these works share the laconic beauty of Rumi's poetry, which ultimately works to create an emotionally resonant homage to tradition in the frenetic modern world.

Nostalgic memories of my beloved Iran remind me of who I am, and fortify my sense of cultural pride in a land that all too often depicts a most disconcerting and often polar-opposite reflection of my cherished motherland.