This week was all about the Eurovision Song Contest, which took place in Basel this year.
The ESC is the biggest music spectacle in the world. 37 countries compete for the winner’s trophy. The show takes place annually in the country of the previous year’s winner and came to Basel after Nemo’s victory last year. The whole thing lasts a week during which the individual countries compete against each other in preliminary rounds before crowning a winner in the final on Saturday. The event has a huge fan base and is particularly popular among the LGBTQ community. The whole city was in the name of music. There were countless parties and the colorful mix of people from all different countries that populated Basel made for a really nice atmosphere. It was good to be surrounded by peaceful and happy people for once and to escape the otherwise gloomy reality.
Party mood all over the city
Absorbing the atmosphere
Admittedly, I didn’t hop from party to party; I just enjoyed the hustle and bustle in the streets and squares. The good mood permeated every corner. My week was characterized by the usual work, but I always took time out to walk through the city and soak up the vibe. The Messeplatz in particular, where most of the public viewing took place, is just a few steps away from my studio. I found the ambiance most beautiful in the morning, when everything was still quiet.
Lightning Symphony by Claudia Comte at Messeplatz
The beauty of colors
In general, the magic of the new day. I love this moment, especially at this time of year when the daylight comes back early, while everything is still asleep. One morning I rode out to Riehen on my bike. I wanted to see the installation “We are Poems” by Ugo Rondinone, which had been mounted on the roof of the Fondation Beyeler for the whole week. The letters, designed in the colors of the rainbow flag, are a tribute to the ESC’s LGBTQ community. The museum was still closed and I had the beautiful garden almost to myself. And while I was walking through it, I came across a real rainbow! Or rather, a beautiful and vibrant spectrum of colors. The light from the still low sun refracted off the edge of the museum’s glass roof and drew a line along the entire museum across paths and trees. I was so excited! Suddenly this day was a very special one and I was totally happy to have fallen into the arms of synchronization again, which had allowed me to be in the right place at the right time.
Color spectrums in art and nature
Joyful anticipation
Even though there was still time for quiet moments in the forest and by the water, the week was filled with color, music, and joie de vivre right up to the end and made me look forward to Art Basel, which will set the tone next month.
Summer morning outside of Basel
