Meet our Power 50 . After a year of thorough research and rigorous brainstorming sessions, we present our first in the annual Power 50 feature. Specially selected by Canvas, great deliberation and debate characterised our numerous closed-session meetings to nominate and then finalise a list of the Middle East’s most influential cultural players. These movers and shakers have all made a stellar contribution to the region’s art scene over the past year. In inviting fellow art world insiders to share personal anecdotes about these figures – their achievements and unwavering dedication – we engage a community bound by a desire to nurture Middle Eastern art. These 50 luminaries set an inspiring example. POWER THE 2012 art patron HE SHEikHa al-MayaSSa Bint HaMad Bin kHalifa al-tHani BY ALI KHADRA ali khadra is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Canvas Qatar is living a unique moment in history – one of great opportunity which will shape the way the country is perceived from this time forward. While the nation is taking care of business and infrastructure, Sheikha Al-Mayassa is ensuring that art and culture become part of the very fabric of Qatari society. At the helm of the Qatar Museums Authority since 2005, she has been the driving force behind groundbreaking projects such as the IM Pei-designed Museum of Islamic Art and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, not to mention current shows in Doha such as those by Louise Bourgeois and Takashi Murakami, which really have the world talking. As a visionary who is shaping the cultural context of our region, I don’t stand alone in being proud of her cultural ambassadorship. Recently, I watched Sheikha Al-Mayassa’s TED talk in which she said, “I would like to break down the walls of ignorance between East and West.” It is clear that this woman is on a serious mission and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Image courtesy Qatar Museums Authority. 89 HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has demonstrated a remarkable focus and determination in developing long-term infrastructure for the arts in Abu Dhabi and the Gulf region. He has been the leading force behind the Guggenheim and Louvre Abu Dhabi projects as well as promoting the Abu Dhabi Art fair. These initiatives were conceived with the long-term wellbeing of the Emirates in mind. As they come to fruition, we shall see a further flourishing of thought, innovation and creation in our part of the world. These are ventures that will continue to give back to the UAE for many years to come. It is up to us to work with these projects to help bring them to life. It is Sheikh Mohammed’s tenacity that allows us to share our culture with others in a globalised art world. HH SHEikH MOHaMMEd Bin ZayEd al-naHyan BY HE OMAR GHOBASH HE Omar Ghobash is the UAE Ambassador to Russia and the Ukraine. He is also Co-founder of the Arab Fund for Art and Culture and The Third Line gallery in Dubai. Ghobash is a member of Abu Dhabi’s Louvre and Guggenheim acquisition committees. POWER 50 HRH PRincESS JawaHER Bint MaJEd Bin aBdul aZiZ al-Saud BY MOHAMMED HAFIZ It is seldom, when one mentions Saudi Arabia, that a correlation to the arts comes to mind. While Contemporary Saudi art is not a recent phenomenon, it is only in past years that artists from the Kingdom have been making international headlines. They would not have attained such status had it not been for the vision and efforts of a remarkable lady who was the first Saudi woman to have actively and efficiently endorsed this art movement: Princess Jawaher, Founder of the Al-Mansouria Foundation, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to art and culture. A charismatic, well-read woman of acute intelligence, Princess Jawaher was convinced that artists’ full creative expression cannot be realised without the support of those who can help fulfil an artistic vision. The Foundation has published a number of art books, including monographs on Adam Henein and Faisal Samra and Jinniyat Lar by Shadia and Raja Alem. Today, Al-Mansouria boasts one of the most important collections of Saudi and Arab art. Mohammed Hafiz is co-founder of Athr Gallery and CEO of a leading regional fashion retail company. Image courtesy Gallo Images/Getty Images. 90 HH SHEikH MOHaMMEd Bin RaSHid al-MaktOuM BY LATEEFA BINT MAKTOUM An avid poet who writes in traditional Nabati Arabic, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, UAE Prime Minister and Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has made an undeniable contribution to the art world. As honorary patron of Art Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed provides the opportunity for Dubai to become a meeting point for galleries from all over the world, where new conversations are started and new projects may emerge. Through the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, he provides support and encouragement for local artists and galleries and through the annual Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum Patrons of the Arts Awards, which recognises and honours individuals and organisations that have contributed to the arts in Dubai. Sheikh Mohammed is an inspiring figure whose impact is far-reaching. He pushes the public to dream bigger dreams and to reach out and achieve goals beyond what some may think is possible. lateefa Bint Maktoum is an Emirati artist and founder and director of Tashkeel. Photography by Myrna Ayad. 91 HE SHEikHa Mai al-kHalifa BY FATIMA AL-SHROOGI Sheikha Mai Al-Khalifa awakened the Bahrain of memory and legend, bringing it to life with a dynamic cultural agenda. She has told our story to the world and thanks to her efforts, Bahrain now has a month-long Spring of Culture and Manama is the Arab World’s Capital of Culture this year. Her team’s honest portrayal of three fishermen’s huts that dot our shores won Bahrain the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale’s coveted Golden Lion. The old neighbourhoods of Muharraq, once in ruin, have been restored and so regained their beauty and now become a vibrant cultural hub. Sheikha Mai has also helped ensure that our long history is being properly documented. Having participated in excavations at the Bahrain Fort, I felt a swell of pride when it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a museum was built to house its treasures. Thanks to Sheikha Mai, Bahraini culture from the recent past to ancient history has come to life, and our heritage is no longer simply a memory, but preserved for generations to come. fatima al-Shroogi is a Bahrain-based collector of international Modern and Contemporary art. She is the Founder of Cuadro Fine Art Gallery, Dubai and Patron of Cuadro’s Artist Residency. © Canvas Archives aRif naQVi BY SAVITA APTE Art is always the passion of a singular person within an organisation; a conviction of such magnitude, it galvanises the entire corporate entity into supporting, following and eventually being transformed by art. Arif Naqvi’s passion for art led to the foundation of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize (ACAP). With astute prescience, Naqvi recognised that artists from the MENASA region, forced to conform to commercial strictures which could be both stultifying and counterproductive, were afforded few opportunities to showcase their creative potential. He launched a search for talent, which mirrored his appetite for corporate risk-taking. Rather than award a prize for a finished work, with ACAP Naqvi chose to honour the dreamer of dreams, the builder of civilisations, the risk-taker. Naqvi and ACAP changed not only the way the world looks at art from the region, but more importantly, the way in which MENASA artists define themselves. Savita apte is an art historian and Chair of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize. POWER 50 © Canvas Archives 92 MaRyaM & EdwaRd EiSlER BY DINA NASSER KHADIVI Vaclav Havel once said, “Vision is not enough. It must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps, we must step up the stairs.” Such are Maryam and Edward Eisler’s accomplish- ments when one looks at the contributions that they have made. Thanks to their eponymous foundation, the books that Maryam has co-edited, the Arts and Patronage Summit which she co-organised, her co- chairing of the Tate Middle East North Africa Acquisitions Committee and the couple’s involve- ment with the Asia Society and British Museum – their support has surpassed collecting and sponsor- ing. They have paved the road for communication, influence and hope by showing the true face and talent of Middle Eastern art. The Eislers have gone beyond simple patronage and helped carve the pro- file of our region in a most inspiring way. dina nasser-khadivi is founder of art consultancy firm DNK Consulting and is a specialist at Christie’s. Image courtesy Maryam Eisler. HE SHEikH Sultan Bin taHnOun al-naHyan BY ZAKI ANWAR NUSSEIBEH Recently appointed Chairman of the newly established mega government agency, the Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture, Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al-Nahy- an, a member of Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council, has been one of the major young chief executives in the Abu Dhabi government, under the leadership of the President Sheikh Khalifa and the Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad Bin Za- yed, in steering the UAE capital onto a global platform of outstanding achievements. Sheikh Sultan studied at the UAE University and Tufts University and has, since 2004, been active in chairing a number of boards in the Abu Dhabi government including those of ADTA, ADACH, AD- NEC, Al-Ain Wildlife Park & Resort and the Eastern Region Development Committee and is Managing Director of the Emirates Foundation. As such, he has been behind Abu Dhabi’s major tourism and cultural development projects that witnessed the exponential growth of its world-class touristic and cultural assets and activities. As Chairman of TDIC, Sheikh Sultan was the driving force behind the Cul- tural District of Saadiyat Island with its plans for institutions including the Zayed National Museum, Guggenheim and Louvre Abu Dhabi. Zaki anwar nusseibeh is an Advisor in the UAE Ministry of Presidential Affairs and sits on the Boards of the Abu Dhabi Authority for Tourism and Culture, the UAE Archives Centre and the Paris Sorbonne University of Abu Dhabi. POWER 50 Image courtesy TDIC. 93 SuZan SaBanci dinçER BY ÇIğDEM SIMAVI A leading businesswoman, through her position as Chairperson and Executive Board Member of Akbank, Suzan Sabancı Dinçer is a force to be reckoned with on the Turkish and international scenes, both in terms of business and wider society. She is a collector in her own right and her patronage of art and culture extends to her being a Member of The Prince’s Charities Council, a Board Member of Turkey’s Sabancı University, one of the country’s top liberal arts institutions and a Board Member of the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and the Arts. It is under Dinçer’s guidance that Akbank promotes cultural and educational projects such as the International Istanbul Film Festival and the Contemporary Istanbul fair, through Akbank Sanat, a non-profit organisation which hosts over 700 activities a year – from music, dance and theatre to exhibitions, concerts and workshops. çiğdem Simavi established the Foundation for Fine Arts and Cultural Heritage and Galeri Suav. She is a member of the Christie’s European Board. Manal al-dowayan is a Saudi Arabian artist represented by Cuadro Fine Art Gallery in Dubai. MOHaMMEd aBdullatif JaMEEl BY MANAL AL-DOWAYAN Understanding the importance of art and culture is a unique quality among the business community, but Mohammed Abdullatif Jameel has always been a unique man. An MIT graduate with a love for the arts, he took his knowledge and his passion and set a new standard in art patronage. He developed a vision that focused on the local with a global outlook and has a true understanding of the elements that allow for the development of an individual and the society to which they belong. This is clearly demonstrated in his support of three major initiatives on the global art scene: Edge of Arabia’s touring exhibitions of Contemporary Saudi art, the Islamic wing at the V&A and the Jameel Prize at the same institution. Jameel’s support has had a tremendous impact on me and many other artists, both in Saudi Arabia and beyond, and for that, I thank him sincerely. Image courtesy Akbank. © V&A Images. 94 Photography by Myrna Ayad. A painter and photographer, HE Sheikh Hassan Bin Mohammed Bin Ali Al-Thani has collected over 6000 pieces of Modern Arab art and archival documents dating back to 1850. Since his first purchase in 1986, his affinity for art has promoted many talented Arab artists who would not have otherwise gained recognition. His dream of sharing art with a broader public was finally realised when his personal collection evolved into Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art and distinguished Qatar as a capital for Modern Arab art from the Middle East and its Diasporas. He has, by all means, revived the lost art of patronage and played a key role in our region’s artistic renaissance. HE SHEikH HaSSan Bin MOHaMMEd Bin ali al-tHani BY TARIQ AL-JAIDAH tariq al-Jaidah is an art collector and patron and whose latest project is Doha’s Katara Art Centre in collaboration with the Qatari government. POWER 50 HH SHEikHa SalaMa Bint HaMdan al-naHyan BY HH SHEIKHA MARIAM BINT MOHAMMED AL-NAHYAN My mother, HH Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan, is passionate about art and that passion is nothing short of infectious. For her, art is a journey – one of dreams and reali- ties, of beauty in its most profound sense and of what it means to be human. For her too, most importantly, it is a journey on which she invites others to embark alongside her. As a result, in addition to being a collector, she has worked tirelessly to expose people of all ages to art through her position as a pioneer in art education, as a convener of audiences large and small through seminars and as chair of the host committee of our annual art fair, Abu Dhabi Art. She is also the founder of an epon- ymous foundation which places art as one of its core pillars. Through it she continues to be a pioneer in our nation, our region and inter- nationally in supporting artists in all stages of their development, in building new audiences for the arts and as an advocate of art’s central role in our lives, in our journey. HH Sheikha Mariam Bint Mohammed al- nahyan is CEO of the Sheikha Salama Bint Hamdan Al-Nahyan Foundation. 95 BaSMa al-SulaiMan BY SHARIFA AL-SUDAIRI Until I logged onto basmoca.com, I had never seen a Gerhard Richter through the eyes of an avatar, nor was I familiar with the concept of a virtual museum. While my avatar perused works by Bridget Riley and Zhang Huan, visitors arrived and strangers connected to discuss highlights of Basma Al-Suleiman’s international art collection. We have seen a rise in online art browsing, from auctions to blogs and more recently, art fairs. Basmoca, however, is in a league of its own, paving the way for a new generation of virtual art spaces. Al-Suleiman has left an indelible mark on her native Saudi Arabia and has lobbied tirelessly to restore Jeddah’s public sculptures – among them, works by Alexander Calder, Victor Vasarely and Henry Moore – and the construction of a new sculpture park. She has built a uniquely accessible and borderless art platform to educate and bring like-minded people together. She is an inspiration to Saudi women and a pioneer on the Contemporary global art scene. Sharifa al-Sudairi , a member of Parasol Future Unit, is Associate Director of The Pace Gal- lery in London and a supporter of Edge of Arabia, the Tate and the Serpentine Gallery. © Canvas Archives 96 OMER kOç BY ANDREW FINKEL The first generation makes war, the second iron and the third, mocked Bismarck, “studies art history”. Omer Koç may be the third generation to lead Turkey’s most powerful industrial and financial dynasty, but he does not so much study art history as make it. As a collector and benefactor, he has taught his compatriots to understand the old and encourage the new. His private collections – of Iznik ceramics and of books produced in and about the Ottoman Empire – are fabled; but it is as a patron of Contemporary art that he has pushed Turkish art to come of age. The Vehbi Koç Foundation on which he sits, is now the principal sponsor of the Istanbul Biennial; its Arter exhibition space in Istanbul and Tanas Gallery in Berlin are new centres of excellence. Koç is leading the charge to create an Istanbul home for the Foundation’s permanent collection. “Politics is the art of the next best,” said Bismarck, to which Koç’s tacit answer is that art is the politics of the very best. andrew finkel is an Istanbul-based correspondent and has regular columns in Taraf newspaper, the Inter- national Herald Tribune and Cornucopia magazine. His Turkey in the Oxford University Press series What Every- one Needs to Know has just been published. Photography by Hadiye Cangökçe. HE SHEikHa Paula al-SaBaH BY ROBERT GOFF It was about a dozen years ago when I was opening my own gallery that I first met Sheikha Paula. One of her daughters asked me to meet her mother “who wants to collect art”. I had no idea of the family background. Naively, I thought maybe she’d buy a print, maybe I could send her to MoMA for a starter lesson. To my pleasant surprise, Sheikha Paula was extremely knowledgeable about art and art history and had an oceanic curiosity about art from all over the world. Moreover, she had already been a long-time collector, although her endeavours had been tragically cut short by Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and her home. Over the years, she has travelled to far-flung art fairs and biennials, to every city with a scintilla of an art scene, and built one of the most geographically diverse, interesting and superlative collections in the world, not just in the Middle East. You can see Sheikha Paula’s talent for curating in her Kuwait home, Dar Noor, which she generously opens to the public for special occasions. Her strong opinions and often visionary talent-spotting cannot be learned or replicated. All these years later, and after many adventures in the art world, with and because of Sheikha Paula, I am honoured to consider her a friend and mentor. With her role on the boards of institutions such as the Serpentine Gallery, Water Mill and Art Dubai, I’ve come to realise that she plays that role for a whole world, luckily for all of us. Robert Goff is Director of Haunch of Venison gallery, New York. © Canvas Archives 97 POWER 50 THE CHRISTIE’S DUBAI TEAM Isabelle de la Bruyère, Michael Jeha & Hala Khayat BY MOHAMMED AFKHAMI Since establishing its presence in Dubai in 2005, Christie’s has been a central pillar in the development of the Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art scene. Through the hard work of its Dubai team – Isabelle de la Bruyère, Michael Jeha and Hala Khayat – Christie’s has very astutely capitalised on a renewed sense of identity that swept the region in the mid- 2000s and created a dominant international stage for many artists and collectors to exchange Middle Eastern artworks. This has been achieved not only through its successful auctions but also through its sponsorship of regional exhibitions, international lecture tours, extensive cataloguing and finally, syndicating this valuable information through its global platform. In addition, given the nascent stage of the Middle Eastern art market, the Dubai team has become a legitimate verification and effective arbitrator for many of the works being sold. Their presence has proved all the more valuable given the sudden explosion of works appearing in the market in recent years. Mohammed Afkhami is the Managing Partner of MA Partners DMCC and Senior Middle East Advisor to Mitsui Energy Risk Management. He is a founding member of the British Museum’s Middle East and North African art acquisition committee and serves on the Art Dubai Fair Advisory Board. © Canvas Archives Times of change prompt us to contemplate what constitutes leadership and honour those we trust to deliver something worthwhile. That Farhad Farjam features in this list is all the more timely. Through a combination of vision and hard work, he has built one of the most impressive privately owned art collections today, spanning from rare Qur’anic manuscripts to Contemporary cutting-edge works. In March 2009, Farjam opened his vast art collection to the public in Dubai. In less than three years, over 1000 schoolchildren saw tailor-made educational programmes incorporated into their curriculum and hundreds of university students participated in expert-led tours. Today, the collection ignites conversations, fosters ideas and empowers children and the youth. Supporting others, whether through philanthropy, patronage or simply reaching out to those in need, yields results. These results may be intangible or difficult to quantify, but they are pregnant with possibility and the expression of the kind of courage that it takes to make the future look bright. fARHAD fARjAM BY EMILIE FAURE Emilie faure works with White Cube gallery, focusing on sales in the Middle East. © Canvas Archives 98 SALOUA RAOUDA CHOUCAIR BY HALA CHOUCAIR Born in Beirut in 1916, Saloua Raouda Choucair has always defied convention and challenged the unknown. She dedicated her life to abstract art with utmost passion and determination. As the Arab world’s pioneer of Modern Islamic Abstraction, she demonstrated a philosophical and spiritual relationship to art. Through her work, she aspired to depict the unknown, based on the concept of infinity. Her experimentation with various materials – enamel, brass, metal, wood, stone, fibre, Plexiglas, stainless steel and more – proved her restless curiosity and her art’s ability to seamlessly bridge tradition and modernism and be part of everyday life. A major retrospective at the Beirut Exhibition Center last year dazzled visitors with the vitality and creativity of this Avant-garde artist; it also broke attendance records at that venue. A special exhibition of her work, planned by the Tate Modern for 2013, will introduce international art lovers to a visionary artist who rebelled against all stereotypes. An artist in her own right, Hala Choucair is the daughter of Saloua Raouda Choucair and has curated her mother’s 2011 retrospective. POWER 50 Image courtesy Hala Choucair and Agial Art Gallery, Beirut. 99 ANTONIA CARVER BY NEGAR AZIMI Antonia Carver is an innovator. We first met through the Internet, as people do, when we worked together as editors of Bidoun . In those days, the magazine was put together wholly virtually; there was an editor in Zurich, another in Berlin, a pair in New York, me in Cambridge and Carver in Dubai. A quietly formidable force, she was pivotal in our evolution from a magazine to an award-winning platform for educational and curatorial projects around the world. She was responsible for our first book, she initiated Bidoun ’s involvement as a curatorial partner with multiple institutions from the Serpentine Gallery to Art Dubai, and pioneered art writing workshops – probably the first of their kind in the region. Day in and day out, Carver turns tried and traditional art models on their heads. It came as no surprise when she was selected to head Art Dubai, which continues to be a critical part of the regional and international arts landscape – an art fair in which one may encounter some of the most exciting cultural expression of our times. At this momentous time in the history of the region, her unique, sensitive and vital work is more important than ever. Bashar Al-Shroogi is a collector of international Contemporary art and is a Director of Cuadro Fine Art Gallery in Dubai. SHEIKH SULTAN SOOUD AL-QASSEMI BY BASHAR AL-SHROOGI His is a voice heard around the world. Dialogue is the foundation of Sheikh Sultan Al-Qassemi’s many platforms. He established the Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah to share his art collection, believing accessibility to knowledge is paramount to fostering understanding. The barjeel (wind tower) is an architectural construct that enhances air circulation and is an apt metaphor for Al-Qassemi’s goal to encourage the free-flowing exchange of ideas on the Arab world’s nuanced nature. This is the Barjeel vision, one that he embodies through the language of art and the written word. He has, at 33, reshaped global understanding of Middle Eastern history. A columnist for distinguished publications and one of the world’s best Twitter feeds, he has been the subject of global lectures and case studies on the power of social media to bring about change. He has sparked an international dialogue on Arab issues. His vision is a reality. Al-Qassemi tweets once every 45 seconds and the world is listening. Negar Azimi is Senior Editor of Bidoun © Canvas Archives © Canvas Archives art patron MONIR SHAHROUDY fARMANfARMAIAN BY DARIUSH ZANDI In this era of transition, many things that we hold dear are fast disappearing - whether they are natural resources, a belief, an ancient monument or a craft. Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian’s effort and dedication goes beyond reviving a craft and turning it into an artwork that combines beauty and aesthetics. Her art comes from her observation, study and exploration of an age-old culture, people and civilisation, which still prevail. Navigating between the two spaces of modernity and the tradition of ancient Persia, Farmanfarmaian took on the task of turning a traditional craft into Contemporary art, preserving what is redolent of a glorious past. Through her art, she creates, she not only elevates and modernises, but also safeguards the magnificent technique of mirror work for future generations. Image courtesy Tina Remiz, 2011. Dariush Zandi is Chairman of the UAE Architectural Heritage Society, English Chapter and founder of Total Design and Total Arts in Dubai. 101 POWER 50 Princess Alia Al-Senussi serves on the boards and committees of the Tate, Parasol Unit and Serpentine Gallery. She is on the Board of Patrons of Art Dubai and advisory board for Edge of Arabia and is an execu- tive with GenerationThree Family Partners and the VIP Relations Manager Middle East for Art Basel. BEIRUT ART CENTER Sandra Dagher & Lamia Joreige BY PRINCESS ALIA AL-SENUSSI It’s no secret that the Lebanese are an extraordinary example of perseverance in the face of difficulty, as well as often illustrating an uncanny ability to maintain a high quality of life during times of war. Beirut Art Center (BAC) is no exception to this rule, opening to great fanfare and critical acclaim in January 2009 during a time of worldwide economic difficulty as well as a period of extended turmoil in Lebanon. BAC, and its co-founders Lamia Joreige and Sandra Dagher, have not shied away from addressing Lebanon’s complicated history; instead, they have found that celebrating and promoting the artistic achievements that are born out of conflict help a nation to heal. BAC has since set the bar high for educational and cultural programming and presented a variety of top-quality shows that could hold their own on the global stage. BAC is uniquely Lebanese and, at the same time, a world-class art space, illustrating to us all that quality is indeed possible even amidst times of crisis. Rita Aoun’s efforts have helped propel Abu Dhabi’s cultural scene into the international limelight. She is an individual who understands the importance of nurturing culture during such a rapid period of globalisation. With an academic background in theatre, French literature, journalism and art, Aoun’s ability to work within a variety of cultures has been pivotal in bridging the art and culture of the Middle East with that of the rest of the world. Her management of Abu Dhabi Art as well as the projects on Saadiyat Island draw from a vision to place Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s cultural centres. Her energy stems from a strong conviction that culture links all of mankind. RITA AOUN BY FABRICE BOUSTEAU fabrice Bousteau is a curator, writer, radio producer and Editor-in-Chief of Beaux Arts magazine. © Canvas Archives Image courtesy Beirut Art Center. 102 In 2011, Mona Khazindar was appointed Director General of the Institut du Monde Arabe, the first woman to hold this position. Since 1986, she has worked tirelessly towards making the Arab and Middle Eastern Contemporary art movement part of the international art scene. Her efforts also include co-curating the first Saudi Pavilion at the 2011 Venice Biennale. In her capacity as Vice President of the Al-Mansouria Foundation, an international non-profit organisation dedicated to art and culture, Khazindar manages the Al-Mansouria Atelier and its artist residency programme at the Cité Internationale des arts in Paris. She is regularly invited to participate in forums and symposia worldwide to lecture on Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art. Through her frequent travels to the region, Khazindar helps nurture an informed Arab public and the establishment of programmes for renowned Arab public institutions. MONA KHAZINDAR BY RIMA KHODR TAKIEDDINE BY NOOR AL-SUWAIDI As the face of the Gulf region’s art scene has changed in the past decade, one of the most celebrated cultural events is the Sharjah Biennial. Back in 2003, Sheikha Hoor Al-Qasimi was appointed Biennial Director and has since positioned Sharjah as a cultural bridge for Contemporary artists; in 2009, the establishment of the Sharjah Art Foundation was announced. She has tailored the Foundation, Biennial and programmes to suit the needs of artists, from commissioning works and residencies, to the highly focused public educational programmes. Being an artist herself, she is a role model for young artists and arts professionals at home and abroad. An eloquent, confident and passionate young artist, she has dedicated herself to the arts and striven to provide a platform for local audiences to experience Contemporary arts from all over the world. Noor Al-Suwaidi is an Emirati artist represented by Cuadro Fine Art Gallery in Dubai. HE SHEIKHA HOOR AL-QASIMI Rima Khodr Takieddine is Director General of Al-Mansouria Foundation. Image courtesy Art &Patronage Summit. Image courtesy Sharjah Art Foundation. 103 HANS ULRICH OBRIST BY JULIA PEYTON-JONES Hans Ulrich Obrist is a most extraordinary junction maker. His unique way of working in concentric circles, from local to global, is reflected in his ability to impact many different spheres at once; one of the most important of which is Contemporary art from the Middle East. His connection with artists from the region has developed over many years. His ‘protest against forgetting’ has produced countless projects and publications with many key figures including Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Etel Adnan, Susan Hefuna, Marwan Rechmaoui, Adam Henein, Adonis and as many as 15 interviews with Zaha Hadid. Last year, he curated the opening events and commissioned a series of Arabic poets for Hadid’s Chanel Mobile Art Pavilion at the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris. In 2007, he took the Serpentine Gallery Interview Marathon series of events to Cairo with William Wells of the Townhouse Gallery, and his regular presentations for Art Dubai are unmissable. When it comes to important and significant institutions, they do not come any more important than the British Museum. The reach and influence of this institution has been pivotal for the dissemination and understanding of culture since its inception. It is therefore fitting that Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam , a show that celebrates one of the five pillars of Islam, has been one of its more successful to date. Combining historical artefacts with Contemporary art, the show exemplifies the guiding presence and careful consideration of Dr Venetia Porter, one of the most assiduous curators of Contemporary visual culture from the Middle East and beyond. It is this careful imbrication of Contemporary art from the region into the august halls and spaces of the British Museum, including Takhti and Word into Art in 2006 and 2009 respectively (not to mention her many publications and lectures), that marks Porter as one of the most significant advocates and curators of contemporary visual culture working in the field today. VENETIA PORTER BY ANTHONY DOWNEY POWER 50 julia Peyton-jones OBE is Director of the Serpentine Gallery in London. Dr Anthony Downey is the Programme Director of Contemporary Art at the Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London. He is also Editor of www.ibraaz.org and editorial board member of Third Text © Canvas Archives © Canvas Archives 104 POWER 50 EDGE Of ARABIA Abdullah Al-Turki, Abdulnasser Gharem, Stephen Stapleton & Ahmed Mater BY HENRY HEMMING I remember a friend’s bemused reaction four years ago when I mentioned my involvement in a book about Contemporary Saudi art: “Is that going to be a, how can I put this, a long book?” The reaction today is different. Over the last four years, the independent arts initiative Edge of Arabia (EoA) has worked tirelessly to put Saudi art on the map. Co-founded by Director Stephen Stapleton, artists Abdulnasser Gharem and Ahmed Mater and Creative Director Abdullah Al-Turki, EoA has staged exhibitions in London, Berlin, Venice, Istanbul, Dubai and most recently in Jeddah. With Booth- Clibborn Editions, it has produced monographs on its leading artists, Gharem and Mater and has had its artists’ work shown in major public exhibitions, including the British Museum’s Hajj: Journey to the Heart of Islam and The Future of a Promise in Venice. EoA has also organised a record-breaking charitable sale at Christie’s Dubai in 2011 (that made Gharem one of the most expensive living Arab artists) and has established an acclaimed educational programme. Henry Hemming is an author and speaker, who has written for The Times , The Financial Times , The Economist and The Art Newspaper . His books include Misadventure in the Middle East and In Search of the English Eccentric Abdullah Al-Turki. © Canvas Archives Abdulnasser Gharem with his work The Stamp (Amen) II. Image courtesy Edge of Arabia Stephen Stapleton. © Alex Maguire (www. alexmaguirephotography.com). Ahmed Mater. Image courtesy the artist and Edge of Arabia. 105 SALEH BARAKAT BY NABIL NAHAS I met Saleh Barakat when I started coming back to Lebanon in the early 1990s. A modest space at first impression, Agial Art Gallery’s basement was a treasure trove that kept me coming back for days. Barakat introduced me to the Kinda Foundation, which he co-established; it gave me a thorough panorama of Arab art from the 1960s and of his skills as a curator. Another one of his traits is his genuine enthusiasm and generosity in sharing his excitement. Barakat has helped build important private collections of Modern and Contemporary Arab art. He was also instrumental in co-curating the first Lebanese Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale. Barakat’s keen intellect and academic curiosity awarded him a Yale World Fellowship in 2006. He always believed in a Contemporary Arab art world at the forefront of the art scene. He is a visionary who, very early on, focused on promoting Arab artists and now demurely sits back with a grin as it all happens. Thanks in great part to his efforts, Contemporary Lebanese art has found a sound international place. Nabil Nahas is a New York-based Lebanese artist represented by Agial Art Gallery, Beirut and Sperone Westwater, New York. Laura Egerton is Curator of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize. DELfINA ENTRECANALES BY LAURA EGERTON Small but perfectly formed with twinkly eyes and silver hair, Delfina Entrecanales is an atypical patron of Contemporary Middle Eastern art. She was born in Spain and moved to the UK in 1946. There is something highly pragmatic and com- mendable about Entrecanales’s philanthropy. Constantly evolv- ing and responding to the current artistic climate, her patron- age has included practical support to artists, a good meal and accommodation; alongside the opportunity to debate, network, exhibit, perform, collaborate, educate and be inspired. The Delfina Studio Trust operated from 1988 – 2006, after which En- trecanales turned her focus to cross-cultural exchange between the UK and Middle Eastern and North African artists through the diverse activities of the Delfina Foundation, led by the ami- able Aaron Cezar. As she heads into her 85th year, Entrecanales continues to thrive on spending time with young people. Long may her legacy continue to inspire. © Canvas Archives Image courtesy Art &Patronage Summit. ROSE ISSA BY OMAR MAZHAR Omar Mazhar is Co-Director of Rose Issa Projects, London. A pioneer in promoting Contemporary visual art from the Middle East, Rose Issa has worked tirelessly for over 30 years to change the (mostly Western) misrepresentations of people from this region by highlighting their important cultural output. As an independent curator, writer and publisher, she has been responsible for introducing many of the region’s art and film luminaries to Western audiences. Young at heart and never one to shy away from giving her frank opinion (thus at times censored), she has encouraged a more honest debate. Through the books and articles she has authored and the many exhibitions she has curated, both in public institutions and at her project space in London, her contribution to the Middle Eastern art scene is, without a doubt, extraordinary and unparalleled. I believe that many authentic voices from the region – artists, filmmakers and students – are indebted to her for helping put them on the map. © Canvas Archives.