Public Art@Freilager-Platz #2
Curated by Claudia Perren and Chus Martínez
A collaboration between the Basel Academy for Art and Design FHNW (HGK), HEK (House of Electronic Arts Basel) and the Kunsthaus Baselland
Opening Performance 17 June 2025, 1 pm, as part of Art@Dreispitz
Columns, barbecue area and meeting place 17 June – 30 August 2025
Closing Performance 30 August 2025, 7 pm, as part of Kunsttage Basel
Temple of Fire by Chilean artist Pilar Quinteros, who studies in the master’s program at the Institute Art Gender Nature HGK Basel FHNW, takes the form of a site-specific trio of columns that—instead of being remnants of an old culture—form the foundations of a new society. Ironically, one of the columns is transformed into a barbecue. For the artist literally nourishing the community is the best way to be together. The project is part of the Public Art@Freilager-Platz series, a collaboration between the Basel University of Art and Design FHNW (HGK Basel), the HEK (House of Electronic Arts) and the Kunsthaus Baselland (KHBL).
What is the Temple of Fire about? It is about the spirit of togetherness, embodied in a work of art. The ancient discovery of fire becomes a contemporary search for a place to come together. Being together sounds simple—but it is a state that is questioned for many reasons.
In Temple of Fire, Pilar Quinteros refers to the Greek myth of Prometheus, who brought fire to mankind in the form of a glowing piece of charcoal that he hid in the pith of the stem of a giant fennel (Ferula communis). The giant fennel—a plant that is not only fire-resistant but also poisonous—grows in the Mediterranean, but is difficult to find. The artist travelled to La Boissière in the south-west of France in search of this mythical plant. Her search was unsuccessful—so she created the plant herself and gave its hidden properties a physical form in a public space.
“What else do we humans do in our time on earth,” asks Pilar Quinteros, “but create, interpret and build worlds and constantly reconstruct the vague concept we have of reality?”
Temple of Fire has a barbecue that is open to the public and can be used from 17 June to 30 August 2025. Instructions on site.
Public Art@Freilager-Platz is an initiative of the Basel University of Art and Design FHNW (HGK Basel; Claudia Perren, Director), the HEK (House of Electronic Arts) (Sabine Himmelsbach, Director) and the Kunsthaus Baselland (KHBL; Ines Goldbach, Director).
