Art Basel in Switzerland has a unique ritual: many attendees swim in the Rhine River, which flows through Basel. Participants use waterproof bags (often the fish-shaped Wickelfisch brand) to store clothes and belongings, then float downstream from the Museum Tinguely past the Trois Rois hotel. The practice is embraced by dealers, advisers, artists, and art handlers alike, with some describing it as a rejuvenating escape from the fair's intensity. However, not everyone is a fan—gallerist David Nolan calls the river "dirty, dangerous, deeply infested with microplastics," and some attendees avoid it due to concerns about pollution or safety.
This article matters because it captures a distinctive cultural tradition within the high-pressure art fair circuit, highlighting how participants balance work and leisure. The Rhine swim has become a symbolic counterpoint to the commercial frenzy of Art Basel, offering a moment of tranquility and community. It also reflects broader tensions in the art world between productivity and self-care, as well as differing attitudes toward risk and environmental awareness among dealers and collectors.