Throughout December 5-8^th of 2013, locals and tourists from across the globe entered the labyrinth that was Art Basel: the biggest art festival of the year.

Artists and art collectors alike displayed their collections at the Miami Beach Convention Center during the event. Collections consisted of anything from photography to paintings to sculptures to even projections.

Art Basel made sure to accommodate all of these collections. For example, an area with private viewing booths was allocated to display film.

A variety of cultures was represented at Art Basel. Art was shipped from all around the world; this makes Art Basel what it really is: a congregation of all styles of art, each with their own cultural motifs.

Some of the most popular motifs at Art Basel this year were vanity, disorder and admiring the little things in life.

Like last year, Art Basel 2013 included a grass area in the convention center for adults to lie down and rest and for children to run around and play in.

However, before Art Basel even begins, there is a lot of preparation that goes on to ensure the event is a success. Since this event is such a big opportunity for artists to sell their work, they must make sure that everything is ready by convention day. This includes gathering the collections, shipping the art, and contacting as many people as possible about their collections.

“[Preparing for Art Basel] is hectic. We have to ship the art and then contact people about the gallery to get them to come,” Organ-Cleveland Bon, a gallery manager at Art Basel, “This work was created specifically to be displayed at Art Basel. It’s stressful for the artist.”

Art Basel has been an annual event in Miami Beach since 2002 and it has grown immensely since its founding in 1970. With over 50,000 attendees a year, the event’s popularity only keeps growing. The event is also held in Basel and Hong Kong, therefore reaching people from all corners of the world.

Although Art Basel attracts people from different countries that speak different languages, they all have one thing in common: a passion for fine art.