Wake up stupid early today cause I’m dragging my butt all the way to Basel for this Fashion Art Basel thing. Heard it’s big, mix of art and fashion, gotta see for myself. Grabbed my small backpack: notebook, pen, phone charger, portable power bank, water bottle. Basic stuff, ya know?
The Journey & First Shock
Rushed to catch the train. Basel ain’t exactly next door. Scanned the timetable, jumped on the right one, found a seat. Pulled out the phone to get the entrance ticket online. Boom. Price hit me like a punch. Let’s just say that ticket cost way more than my fancy dinner last week. That was expensive AF. But hey, I’m here now, gotta go through with it.
Got off the train, followed the crowd cause everyone seemed headed that way. Place was buzzing already. Big buildings, lots of flags. Showed my digital ticket, scanner beeped, and in I went.
Inside the Madness
Whoa. Immediate thought: This place is a freaking zoo. Packed. I mean shoulder-to-shoulder, gotta-watch-your-step packed. So many galleries, brands, art pieces jammed together. Felt kinda dizzy at first. Went left, wandered through this section. Saw wild paintings, super bright clothes hanging like sculptures, weird installations made of glass or shiny things. One piece was just a giant pile of colorful rocks? Okay, art. Cool.
Needed a break from the crowd crush. Found a tiny cafe corner, squeezed in, ordered the cheapest coffee they had. While paying, someone bumped me hard. Coffee splashed everywhere. Mostly on the floor, thank god, not on anyone nearby. Annoying, but whatever. Sat down on one of those little stools they had, tried to chillax for a few minutes, people-watched. Saw some seriously out-there outfits.
Finding My Spot
Finished my overpriced, almost-spilled coffee. Decided the inside was too much. Needed air. Headed outside towards some open space I saw near the main hall. It was quieter here, kinda a park or something. Benches, trees. Found an empty bench. Sat down, pulled out my notebook and pen from the backpack. Just started watching people stream out from the halls. Really good vibes here.
Picked a few interesting looking folks:
- Guy rocking bright green trousers with big polka dots.
- Lady with amazing blue hair piled up super high.
- Group of students laughing and pointing at stuff.
Tried sketching them quick and loose. Didn’t bother with fancy details, just capturing the shapes, the feel. Used the pen, did simple lines. No stress, just fun. Soaked in the sun, enjoyed the slower pace.
Wrapping Up the Day
Sat there sketching for maybe half an hour. Felt way better after the madhouse inside. Packed up the notebook. Started walking back towards the station. Legs were definitely tired. Saw one last group of models outside a tent doing poses while someone took photos. Looked kinda cool. Snapped one quick picture on my phone, just for me.
Hopped back on the train home. Train was crowded too, had to stand for a bit. Good day? Yeah, mostly. Crazy expensive ticket, spilled coffee, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds… BUT seeing all that wild art and fashion? Finding that calm spot to sketch people? That made it worth the hassle this time. Learned that next time I come to something massive like this, need to plan better for escape routes and water budget. The creative energy buzzing in that city, you gotta feel it to understand.
