Exploring Afterlight and Afterglow at Kunsthaus Baselland in Basel
Art enthusiasts visiting Basel can experience a thoughtful look into the evolution of video art and its historical precursors through the group exhibition Afterlight. Afterglow. Hosted at Kunsthaus Baselland, the showcase brings together an extensive lineup of regional and international creators whose work explores the boundaries of moving images, monitors, and kinetic expression from the late 1950s onward.
Discovering Video Pioneers and Contemporary Voices
The exhibition features prominent works from significant figures in the medium's history, placing foundational pioneers side by side with subsequent generations of artists. Visitors can encounter pieces by creators such as Georg Faulhaber, Karl Gerstner, Julio Le Parc, Zilla Leutenegger, Roy Lichtenstein, Gustav Metzger, Oscar Muñoz, Nam June Paik, Sergio Prego, René Pulfer, Pipilotti Rist, Teresa Serrano, Keith Sonnier, and Nevet Yitzhak.
Through significant loans drawn from private collections, public institutions, and the artists themselves, the presentation examines how early innovations with cameras and recorders continue to resonate. The selection also highlights the specific contributions of Swiss creators alongside their global peers, charting technological milestones from early Super 8 experiments to complex contemporary video installations.
Visitor Information and Media Response
The exhibition has drawn considerable attention from cultural critics and local media outlets, with reviews featured across publications such as the Basler Zeitung, Kunstbulletin, and the New Zürcher Zeitung, alongside broadcast coverage from Radio X and Telebasel.
Curated by Ines Goldbach and Käthe Walser, with assistance from Yasmin Emmenegger, the project offers a unique lens on how contemporary institutions present historical media art. Visitors planning a trip to explore current offerings can find more details on Musemap (musemap.art), including the museums list, the interactive map view, and upcoming exhibitions and events.
