Katharina Grosse has created a monumental site-specific commission titled CHOIR (2025) for the Messeplatz at Art Basel, covering the entire square and the Messe building with her signature spray-painted veils of high color. In an interview with The Art Newspaper, Grosse discusses how she tackled the vast urban space, emphasizing the immediacy of entering the square without any transitional experience, and describes her process of painting over roofs, facades, a fountain, and even a clock, using only magenta and white to create luminous effects. The work is part of a busy summer for the artist, who also has exhibitions at the Deichtorhallen in Hamburg and the Staatsgalerie Stuttgart.
This commission matters because it represents a rare instance of a painter intervening on such a grand scale in a busy urban environment during one of the world's most important contemporary art fairs. Grosse's approach challenges traditional notions of scale and abstraction, arguing that her work is rooted in physical thought processes and theatricality rather than pure abstraction. The piece also highlights the growing trend of art fairs commissioning ambitious public installations that transform the fair's immediate surroundings, engaging both art-world visitors and the general public in a direct, immersive experience.