Sep 27 • Questions For • Words by Limna

Questions for Sven Eisenhut, Director of Art Salon Zurich

With Art Salon Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest city gains a vital new platform for artists and galleries: the fair will take place from Wednesday 28 September to Sunday 2 October 2022 on the SBB site in Zurich Altstetten, bringing together a curated selection of 30 local and international galleries. Today, we explore the art-world journey of the fair’s Director, Sven Eisenhut, who is also Founding Director of photo basel, Switzerland’s first and only international art fair dedicated to photography.

How did you get started doing what you do?

We started photo basel art fair in 2015 in Basel parallel to Art Basel. So over time more and more stakeholders started asking us to organise something in Zürich. This is how the Art Salon Zürich was born.

Art Salon Zurich 2022, Galerie Bildhalle booth.

What’s something you wish you knew when you first started in the art world?

That it is like in any other business, there are friendships to be made but also competition.

What’s the first artwork you ever bought?

Since my godfather is a renowned painter in Switzerland, I was given many artworks throughout my childhood and teenage years. The first piece I bought was a photograph by the Swiss/Danish duo Putput - they are doing our key visual every year.

What’s the most misunderstood aspect of the art market in your opinion?

That NFTs do not democratise the art world.

Which artist are you currently really excited about?

For this Art Salon Zürich, I am keen on learning more about Philipp Keel’s work (Galerie Bildhalle), I also love Patric Sandri’s work (Multipleart), the recently deceased Swiss photographer, Roger Humbert (Galerie Fabian & Claude Walter) with his Konkrete Fotografie appeals to me as well. I’m excited to see Talaya Schmid’s work in real life as I have just seen it on the computer screen.

What’s the last art-related Instagram post you liked or an account you followed?

Great questions - just today I started following Limna.

What upcoming exhibitions are you looking forward to?

Doris Salcedo at Fondation Beyeler this fall.

Patric Sandri, Untitled, (Composition with stretchers, 3 Colours, Open Parts and Supplements)

Tell us about an artist who should be getting more attention.

Roger Humbert: he was a pioneer of concrete photography - a one-of-a-kind. I also think that Janik Bürgin has a steep career ahead of him.

What’s the best piece of art-world advice you’ve ever been given?

They are all sharks.

How do you gain confidence when buying art?

By not listening but seeing and feeling art. If you like a piece, don’t listen - buy it with your eyes, not with your ears. In addition, you should really like the piece and consider living with it. Don’t put it in a vault.

Doris Salcedo: Palimpsest, Fondation Beyeler