A knockout night in the ring
Japanese women’s wrestling was back with a bang this week following its headline-hitting debut here in 2023, when crowds cheered the fighters from the Sukeban wrestling league. Devotees of the performative sport showed up at the Miami Beach Bandshell to see women warriors such as Maya Mamushi, Crush Yuu, Midnight Player and Babyface slug it, with the pumped-up crowd oohing and aahing at the slams, jumps and neck holds. Ichigo Sayaka was eventually crowned victor after several rounds of grappling and grinding, receiving a specialist belt designed by Marc Newson in the cloisonné style. The raucous evening was topped off by an appearance from Violet Chachki and Gottmik, drag titans and stars of RuPaul’s Drag Race, who brought their own brand of glam to the evening’s high-octane proceedings.
Superstar Diana Ross sings at the Mirage Factory party
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The supreme queen of song comes out
Music superstars are drawn to Art Basel Miami Beach like moths to a flame, and this year is no exception. Guests attending Alex Prager’s Mirage Factory launch on Wednesday were treated to an “intimate” performance by the 13-time Grammy-nominated singer and all-round legend Diana Ross. Meanwhile, the rapper 2 Chainz performed a short set at Soho Beach House, delivering hits including Bandz a Make Her Dance. The rapper poked fun at the suit-clad audience—“This is a get-money event,” he said—and gave a special shout-out during a rendition of Birthday Song. Best wishes from 2 Chainz!
Compensation for Darkness (1980) by Sadao Hasegawa
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Muscle beach
Bulging muscles and big pecs are trademarks of the erotica art star Tom of Finland. But Sadao Hasegawa of Japan also revelled in creating arousing depictions of the male form, drawing on Japanese folklore, science fiction and Ovidian myth to portray chiselled physiques. A selection of paintings are on show at Garth Greenan’s Art Basel Miami Beach stand, a key platform for the late pioneer. “Physical examples of his art are rarely seen outside of Japan,” says the gallery. Go savour Sadao’s sensuous representations.
Nessarose, is that you?: Oleszko’s huge inflatable evokes the Wicked of it all
Courtesy the artist and David Peter Francis, New York
For these ruby slippers, there’s no place like Miami
Some very big feet are turning heads at Art Basel Miami Beach. The 13ft-tall inflatable work Big Foots (1995) by the artist Pat Oleszko dominate the David Peter Francis stand, even poking out over the wall. The humongous piece comprises a pair of legs bedecked in striped tights and pointy shoes, reminiscent of the Wicked Witch of the East in The Wizard of Oz. The Miami presentation reflects Oleszko’s upwards trajectory—in January, more than 20 of her inflatables will take over SculptureCenter in Long Island City in her first New York solo show in over 35 years. The gallery staff at the fair, meanwhile, don sculptural hats designed by Oleszko, available for prices between $5,000 and $8,000. Chapeau!
