The Art Newspaper

Christoph Büchel: access all areas

Artist sells keys to his home

By Louisa Buck. From Art Basel daily edition
Published online: 10 June 2009

For visitors having trouble finding accommodation in Basel this year, Swiss artist Christoph Büchel’s Home (duplicate), 2009, at Hauser & Wirth (2.0/D1), (price undisclosed) could provide the answer.

The piece consists of a set of keys to the artist’s Basel apartment and comes in an edition of two—the maximum number of duplicate security keys that can be cut—and an artist’s proof that is Büchel’s original set. For an undisclosed price, the owner of the piece is allowed lifetime access to the artist’s apartment—whether Büchel is in residence or not.

More of Büchel’s life is up for grabs on the stand, with what looks like an accidentally dropped wallet on the floor. Wallet (lost), 2009, is in fact Büchel’s own, complete with credit cards, various forms of ID and driving licence, which has been glued to the booth floor.

Upon purchase of the piece—again for an undisclosed sum—the wallet will be unstuck and handed over, and according to a Hauser & Wirth representative the credit cards will be cancelled, “but if you are quick you can probably do some shopping!” he added.