Latest news with #MCHGroup
ILoveQatar.net
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- ILoveQatar.net
Art Basel Qatar reveals new format for inaugural fair, international artist Wael Shawky appointed as Artistic Director
Art Basel is proud to reveal first details of its newly launched fair in Qatar, which will unfold in M7 creative hub in the heart of Doha's Design District from 5 to 7 February 2026, with Preview Days on 3 and 4 February 2026. For its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will depart from the traditional booth model to introduce a new fair format grounded in artistic vision and conceptual rigor. Conceived by Art Basel as a platform to foster deeper engagement with leading galleries and artists from the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and further afield, the show will prioritize an engaging experience that maintains strong market relevance. Art Basel Qatar is a joint initiative between Art Basel, MCH Group, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) and QC+. Additionally, Art Basel Qatar is delighted to announce the appointment of internationally acclaimed, Egyptian-born artist Wael Shawky as Artistic Director for the first edition of the fair. Together with Vincenzo de Bellis, Art Basel's Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs, Shawky will lead the curatorial vision of the 2026 edition and guide the gallery selection process, in consultation with the fair's dedicated Selection Committee. He brings deep regional insight and a multidisciplinary approach that aligns with the fair's ambitions, including plans to transform Qatar Museum's Fire Station into a platform for educational programs. Art Basel Qatar will embrace an open-format exhibition, with solo presentations by galleries responding to a central thematic framework, defined and developed by Art Basel's artistic leadership to serve as both anchor and catalyst for the show. The exhibition will unfold across two key venues – M7 and the Doha Design District – as well as selected public sites in Msheireb, Doha's creative and cultural heart. Vincenzo de Bellis, Chief Artistic Officer and Global Director of Fairs for Art Basel, said: 'With Art Basel Qatar, we are pushing the boundaries of the art fair model – placing artistic intention at its core while responding to today's market. This format allows us to support galleries in presenting artists' work with greater depth and resonance. Doha is an ideal context for this evolution: It is a place where cultural ambition meets a rich and layered history, and where experimentation is both welcomed and supported. For our inaugural edition, we are thrilled to work with Wael Shawky, who brings a rare combination of intellectual precision, visual imagination, and regional knowledge.' In its inaugural edition, Art Basel Qatar will explore the theme 'Becoming' – a meditation on humanity's ongoing transformation and the evolving systems that shape how we live, believe, and create meaning. The Gulf emerges as a living palimpsest – a region where oral traditions intersect with digital networks, and ancient trade routes are reimagined as contemporary flows of culture and capital. Within this layered context, art becomes a vital conduit, translating systemic shifts into form. It acts not only as a witness to history but as an active force in the continual redefinition of human identity. Wael Shawky said: 'It is a privilege to work with Art Basel on this groundbreaking new format. The opportunity to explore artistic practices from across the MENA region and beyond, within a framework that values research, narrative, and experimentation, is extremely meaningful to me. I look forward to collaborating with galleries and artists to help shape a platform that speaks to the complexity and richness of the region while remaining globally relevant.' Based in Doha, Wael Shawky most recently won acclaim for his video work Drama 1882, representing Egypt at the 60th International Art Exhibition at the Venice Biennale (2024). His work, which ranges widely among film, performance, and storytelling, has been the subject of solo exhibitions at institutions including Tate Modern (2022), Kunsthaus Bregenz (2016), MoMA PS1 (2015), Mathaf (2015), Serpentine Gallery (2013), and The Hammer (2013), among others. Shawky's work is currently on view in the site-specific installation I Am Hymns of the New Temples at LUMA Arles, as well as a solo show at the University of Edinburgh's Talbot Rice Gallery. He has participated in major international exhibitions including the 14th Istanbul Biennial (2015), the 11th Sharjah Biennial (2013), Documenta 13 (2012), the 9th Gwangju Biennial (2012), and SITE Santa Fe (2008). Shawky founded MASS Alexandria, an independent studio program for young artists, in 2010. In October 2024, Shawky was appointed Artistic Director of the Doha Fire Station, where he has launched the Arts Intensive Study Program (AISP) designed to foster critical thinking, hands-on learning, and professional development for a cohort of 20 emerging international and Qatari artists. The fair's dedicated Selection Committee will comprise leading gallery representatives from the region and beyond: Lorenzo Fiaschi, Galleria Continua (San Gimignano, Beijing, Havana, Boissy-le-Châtel, Paris, Rome, Dubai, São Paulo); Shireen Gandhy, Chemould Prescott Road (Mumbai); Daniela Gareh, White Cube (London, Hong Kong, New York, Paris, Seoul); Mohammed Hafiz, Athr Gallery (Jeddah, Al Ula, Riyadh); Sunny Rahbar, The Third Line (Dubai), and Gordon VeneKlasen, Michael Werner Gallery (New York, Athens, Berlin, Los Angeles, London).
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Exploring Undiscovered European Gems This July 2025
As European markets experience a modest upswing, buoyed by German economic stimulus and easing trade tensions, the pan-European STOXX Europe 600 Index has risen by 1.32%, signaling a positive shift in investor sentiment. Amidst this backdrop of cautious optimism, identifying promising small-cap stocks in the region becomes increasingly relevant for investors seeking opportunities beyond the mainstream indices. In such an environment, a good stock is often characterized by strong fundamentals and growth potential that align with broader economic trends and regional developments. Name Debt To Equity Revenue Growth Earnings Growth Health Rating AB Traction NA 5.39% 5.24% ★★★★★★ La Forestière Equatoriale NA -65.30% 37.55% ★★★★★★ Linc NA 101.28% 29.81% ★★★★★★ Caisse Regionale de Credit Agricole Mutuel Toulouse 31 19.46% 0.47% 7.14% ★★★★★☆ Decora 18.47% 11.59% 10.86% ★★★★★☆ Sparta NA -9.54% -15.40% ★★★★★☆ Castellana Properties Socimi 53.49% 7.49% 44.78% ★★★★☆☆ Practic 5.21% 4.49% 7.23% ★★★★☆☆ Grenobloise d'Electronique et d'Automatismes Société Anonyme 0.01% 5.17% -13.11% ★★★★☆☆ MCH Group 124.09% 12.40% 43.58% ★★★★☆☆ Click here to see the full list of 334 stocks from our European Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener. Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Kid ASA, along with its subsidiaries, is a home textile retailer operating in Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Estonia with a market capitalization of NOK6.32 billion. Operations: Kid ASA generates revenue primarily through its Hemtex and KID Interior segments, with revenues of NOK1.47 billion and NOK2.35 billion, respectively. Kid ASA, a home textile retailer, is carving out its niche in the Nordic market with strategic investments in e-commerce and store expansions. The company's earnings growth of 7.5% last year outpaced the Specialty Retail industry average of -2.4%. Kid's debt to equity ratio has improved from 53.5% to 44.9% over five years, reflecting prudent financial management. Despite a net loss of NOK 30 million in Q1 2025, revenues climbed to NOK 734 million from NOK 697 million year-on-year. Trading at nearly 30% below fair value estimates suggests potential upside for investors seeking undervalued opportunities in this sector. Kid's strategic e-commerce investments and warehouse automation are enhancing growth and efficiency. Click here to explore the full narrative on Kid's investment potential. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Bahnhof AB (publ) operates in the Internet and telecommunications sector across Sweden and Europe, with a market capitalization of SEK6.49 billion. Operations: Bahnhof AB generates revenue primarily from its Retail Market segment, contributing SEK1.42 billion, and its Corporate Market segment (excluding Typhoon), which adds SEK639.39 million. The company operates with a focus on these key segments to drive its financial performance. Bahnhof, a promising player in the European telecom sector, has shown consistent performance with earnings growing 13.5% annually over the past five years. Trading at 26.8% below its estimated fair value suggests potential for investors seeking undervalued opportunities. The company reported first-quarter sales of SEK 536 million, up from SEK 491 million last year, and net income rose to SEK 57.75 million from SEK 56.17 million previously. With no debt on its books and high-quality earnings, Bahnhof stands out as a financially sound entity in an industry where it slightly lags behind peers in annual growth rates but remains robust overall. Unlock comprehensive insights into our analysis of Bahnhof stock in this health report. Learn about Bahnhof's historical performance. Simply Wall St Value Rating: ★★★★★★ Overview: Creades AB is a private equity and venture capital investment firm focusing on various stages of venture and growth investments, with a market cap of SEK10.18 billion. Operations: Creades AB generates revenue primarily from its investments in online retailers, amounting to SEK1.55 billion. Creades, a nimble player in the financial sector, has shown remarkable earnings growth of 5812% over the past year, outpacing its industry peers. The company reported a turnaround in Q1 2025 with revenue hitting SEK 195 million from negative figures previously and net income soaring to SEK 178 million. Its price-to-earnings ratio stands attractively at 7.2x against the Swedish market's average of 23.1x. With no debt on its books for five years and high-quality earnings, Creades seems well-positioned despite historical declines in annual earnings by about 24%. Delve into the full analysis health report here for a deeper understanding of Creades. Review our historical performance report to gain insights into Creades''s past performance. Reveal the 334 hidden gems among our European Undiscovered Gems With Strong Fundamentals screener with a single click here. Invested in any of these stocks? Simplify your portfolio management with Simply Wall St and stay ahead with our alerts for any critical updates on your stocks. Invest smarter with the free Simply Wall St app providing detailed insights into every stock market around the globe. Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Companies discussed in this article include OB:KID OM:BAHN B and OM:CRED A. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The past five years for MCH Group (VTX:MCHN) investors has not been profitable
MCH Group AG (VTX:MCHN) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 24% in the last month. But will that heal all the wounds inflicted over 5 years of declines? Unlikely. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 76%. While the recent increase might be a green shoot, we're certainly hesitant to rejoice. The fundamental business performance will ultimately determine if the turnaround can be sustained. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During five years of share price growth, MCH Group moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 12% a year in the five year period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). If you are thinking of buying or selling MCH Group stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. Investors should note that there's a difference between MCH Group's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that MCH Group's TSR, which was a 72% drop over the last 5 years, was not as bad as the share price return. Investors in MCH Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 31%, against a market gain of about 6.9%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 11% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - MCH Group has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The past five years for MCH Group (VTX:MCHN) investors has not been profitable
MCH Group AG (VTX:MCHN) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 24% in the last month. But will that heal all the wounds inflicted over 5 years of declines? Unlikely. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 76%. While the recent increase might be a green shoot, we're certainly hesitant to rejoice. The fundamental business performance will ultimately determine if the turnaround can be sustained. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Trump has pledged to "unleash" American oil and gas and these 15 US stocks have developments that are poised to benefit. There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During five years of share price growth, MCH Group moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 12% a year in the five year period. A more detailed examination of the revenue and earnings may or may not explain why the share price languishes; there could be an opportunity. The image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). If you are thinking of buying or selling MCH Group stock, you should check out this FREE detailed report on its balance sheet. Investors should note that there's a difference between MCH Group's total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Its history of dividend payouts mean that MCH Group's TSR, which was a 72% drop over the last 5 years, was not as bad as the share price return. Investors in MCH Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 31%, against a market gain of about 6.9%. Even the share prices of good stocks drop sometimes, but we want to see improvements in the fundamental metrics of a business, before getting too interested. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 11% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Take risks, for example - MCH Group has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of companies that have proven they can grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on Swiss exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business of Fashion
21-05-2025
- Business
- Business of Fashion
Explainer: Making Sense of Art Basel's New Qatar Fair
Art Basel, the world's largest organiser of art fairs, is bound for the enormously wealthy Gulf region with a new annual art event in the Qatari capital of Doha set to launch in February 2026, Art Basel and its Swiss parent company MCH Group announced Tuesday. Dubbed Art Basel Qatar, the new event expands Art Basel's line of prestigious annual art fairs to five. The firm's flagship fair, founded in its namesake Swiss city in 1970, established the blueprint for subsequent Art Basel fairs in Miami Beach (launched 2002), Hong Kong (2013) and Paris (2022). Art Basel Qatar is the product of a three-way partnership between Art Basel, Qatar Sports Investments and QC+, a Doha-based 'strategic and creative collective' that plays 'a pivotal role in developing Qatar's cultural infrastructure,' according to a statement. The terms of the transaction were undisclosed. The deal triggers an avalanche of questions on the implications for Art Basel, Qatar and the wider art industry, desperately in search of growth opportunities after more than two years of shrinking sales. How surprising is this deal? At least seven out of ten. The art world has long seen the wealthy Gulf region as a prime market for expansion, but until now the relatively minor Art Dubai was the region's most prominent art fair. Rumors had sprung up in the second half of 2024 that Art Basel was in talks with Abu Dhabi to take over the commercially slight fair Abu Dhabi Art in exchange for a multimillion-dollar capital injection. But after several months passed without word of a deal, the industry moved on, assuming negotiations had run aground. Instead, it seems Art Basel's ambitions in the Middle East simply took a one-hour flight to Doha. The inaugural edition of the new fair will take place in the M7 creative hub and Doha Design District in the city's Msheireb Downtown quarter. The small scale of Art Basel Qatar, at least initially, adds to the intrigue. The first edition of the fair will feature only around 50 galleries specialising in modern and contemporary art, with the selections to be overseen by a still-to-be-announced artistic director. That would make the fair's inaugural outing around one-sixth the size of Art Basel's flagship event, which typically hosts around 300 exhibitors. The eventual plan is for Art Basel Qatar to reach the same scale as Art Basel Paris's approximately 200 galleries, according to a report in Artnet. Experts agree that it would be difficult for the new fair to be financially sustainable before then without a healthy subsidy from the Qatari government. Why would Art Basel choose Qatar? A significant new revenue stream and a foothold in the Middle East through a partner with sterling art world credentials and minimal political complications — at least relative to the other options in the Gulf. Under Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the chairperson of Qatar Museums since 2006 (and the sister of the emir), Qatar has been collecting and commissioning art at a world-class level for nearly two decades. It has previously been reported that the Qatar Museums had an annual budget of around $1 billion for art acquisitions. For comparison, the Museum of Modern Art spent less than $26 million adding to its collection in 2022-23. Although much of the actual transacting has been done through Western advisers, beginning with the dealers Philippe Ségalot and Franck Giraud in the noughties, Sheikha Al Mayassa has been a near-constant presence on the global art circuit. In the process she has burnished her reputation as a true connoisseur as well as a cosmopolitan on matters of taste and censorship. (Qatar Museums has organised several exhibitions of work by women artists over the years, for instance.) Qatar has also funneled billions more dollars into new museums and arts and culture infrastructure over this span. The past 19 years have already seen the country open three major institutions centred on regional art and history: the Mathaf, the Museum of Islamic Art and most recently the Jean Nouvel-designed National Museum of Qatar. More are on the way. The forthcoming Lusail Museum is designed to be the world's largest for Orientalist art, manuscripts and applied arts, and the Art Mill Museum, an 80,000-square-metre institution for international art made from 1850 to the present, is due to open in 2030. The latter is expected to (finally) showcase the multibillion-dollar trove of global art Qatar Museums has been assembling since the Sheikha took the helm. What's in it for Qatar? As the Gulf nations have sought to soften their image and expand their economies beyond fossil fuels, a heated competition has erupted in the region over dominance in art, entertainment, sports and culture. A partnership with Art Basel could give Qatar the upper hand in establishing itself as the Arab world's nexus for the high-end international art trade. This is far from a given despite Qatar's enormous spending on artwork over the past two decades. Although Abu Dhabi has inked co-operative deals with a slew of renowned Western art institutions, including the Louvre, the Guggenheim and the British Museum, the strongest scene for the art business in the Middle East currently belongs to Dubai, where more than 30 local and international dealers operate bricks-and-mortar locations and both Christie's and Sotheby's maintain offices. In comparison, the Sheikha told The New York Times that Qatar has 'five or six commercial galleries.' Not surprisingly, the most prominent art fair in the region is also generally understood to be Art Dubai, whose most recent edition welcomed such recognisable Western galleries as Perrotin, Bortolami and Almine Rech. Yet none of those galleries operate at the uppermost echelons of the trade. The brand equity of Art Basel could be enough to lure an even higher level of international dealers, including the mega-galleries Gagosian, Hauser & Wirth, David Zwirner and Pace, to the region. All of which could supercharge any effort on Qatar's part to grow an organic, self-sustaining art market with global appeal. If nothing else, Art Basel Qatar steals away the recent momentum of Saudi Arabia within the trade. Christie's announced in September 2024 that it had secured a commercial licence there, and in February, Sotheby's staged its first cross-category auction of art and collectibles in Riyadh. What are the biggest questions about the deal? One is organisational. There are now two points on the annual calendar where Art Basel will be tasked with staging two fairs within eight weeks or less. The first crunch was created by the addition of Art Basel Paris, whose dates in late October leave scant breathing room before Art Basel Miami Beach in early December. An almost equally tight turnaround now exists between Art Basel Qatar's dates in early February (ahead of Ramadan) and those of Art Basel Hong Kong in late March. Another dilemma concerns the exhibitor list for the first Art Basel Qatar. On one hand, the 50-gallery target means the firm might have to turn away (then mend relationships with) longtime exhibitors from its other fairs. On the other hand, the Qatari fair's small scale is a tacit admission that the collector base there remains incipient (aside from Qatar Museums itself). This in turn means that high-level dealers may need to be incentivised to put forth the considerable time and effort to participate. The structure of the deal with Qatar Sports Investments and QC+ could solve the problem. Imagine, for instance, if Art Basel could offer to waive or drastically discount the fees to rent booths at the fair — a potential savings of tens of thousands of dollars per exhibitor based on the rates at its other events. Would that be enough to motivate apex-level galleries to come to Doha? What if business-class airfare and luxury accommodations were also provided free of charge by the fair's Qatari partners? These types of concessions would be unthinkable almost anywhere else, but they could very well be in play here. Critics will undoubtedly express concerns about Qatar's stance on human rights. When the nation won the rights to host the World Cup in 2022, the attention shone a spotlight on alleged labour abuse, a paternalistic system restricting women's rights and intolerance for same-sex relationships and non-normative gender identities. To what extent these issues trouble those who tend to exhibit or buy work at major art fairs remains to be seen. The whiff of controversy may put off potential corporate sponsors, but this seems unlikely given the long list of top multinational brands that signed on to support the World Cup in Qatar three years ago. Besides, Art Basel's Qatari payout may well be enough to render corporate sponsorship deals unnecessary. What are the broader implications for the art industry? Art Basel Qatar is, first and foremost, an acknowledgment that the Gulf is the last high-potential growth market for the international art industry. Nowhere else in the world offers as high a concentration of wealth and as light a pre-existing footprint in the trade. The top-down, state-backed push to rebrand the Gulf states using art and culture probably creates the most lucrative opportunity international art sellers have seen since Chinese collectors began buying Western art in earnest around 20 years ago. The new fair is also the latest evidence that the global art-fair audience is fragmenting. It used to be that the same relatively diverse group of collectors, dealers, institutional professionals and intermediaries more or less traveled together along the same continent-hopping itinerary throughout the year. More recently, however, fewer Americans are making the trip to Hong Kong every year, fewer Asians are coming to Miami and even many Europeans are choosing either Switzerland or Paris, not both. It's debatable how much of this fragmentation has to do with larger sociopolitical forces, a still-volatile global economy and the magnitude of the annual art calendar. But the logistical frictions created by Art Basel's newest fair, even within its own internal universe of responsibilities, suggests the organisation understands that its different events increasingly serve different constituencies. Art Basel Qatar is designed to reach past the Gulf itself. But its attraction beyond East Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa is probably limited. Similar concentric rings of interest can be drawn around not only every other Art Basel event but also every art fair from every other organiser as well. Truly global appeal may be something that almost no yearly event in the art industry can muster anymore. Art Basel may not be the first to recognise as much, but it is certainly early in acting on it in this region. The main question going forward is how much groundwork the company and its partners will need to lay before a critical mass of dealers, tastemakers and collectors will follow.
