Francisco Sierra wins the Unlimited People’s Pick

With over 70 pieces to choose from, visitors were drawn to Sierra’s
work, which humorously subverts the idea of ‘monumentality.’ The piece, though
sprawling in its installation, comprises tiny canvases measuring only 6.5 × 6.5
cm – the artist’s smallest paintings to date. Each of the 48 canvases depicts a
beautifully detailed rainbowfish, otherwise known as a guppy, to scale; they
are installed across three walls, in a single line, atop concave reliefs. Guppy
is an extension of the Swiss-Chilean artist’s ongoing interest in human-pet relationships.
Small decorated home aquariums have been a growing trend amongst Gen X and millennials,
who use these spaces to breed new variants of rainbowfish at home. In Basel, Sierra’s
installation acts as an aquarium filled with colorful life-sized guppies bred
by his own imagination.

Engaging visitors from around the world, the launch of the Unlimited
People’s Pick has encouraged the public to share their opinions while also highlighting
the Art Basel community’s deep appreciation of art. Beyond voting online,
visitors have also been sharing their favorite works on social media – for
those reading from afar, you can explore all the highlights on Instagram.