preview getting the balance right The next Dubai Christie’s sale of International Modern and Contemporary Art will feature a well-rounded lot of Middle Eastern works. The Turks and Saudis are back – so are some auction regulars – but this October sale also sees some new names on the auction scene. 63 T E X T BY M Y R N A AYA D I M A G E S C O U R T E S Y O F C H R I S T I E ’ S he Dubai Christie’s International Modern and Contemporary only natural for people to feel reticent about consigning; Art sale in April this year generated almost $4.8 million – the auction was put together right after the credit crisis,” he a stark contrast to the sale exactly a year before, which says. But by now, auction houses should have gotten used generated a little over $20 million. William Lawrie, Christie’s to the market; buyers have certainly picked up on changes Islamic Arts Specialist, admits that the feedback on and become a lot more selective. “I’m happy to say that the consignments for the upcoming October sale has been supply is back,” adds Lawrie. Changes in the art market have much better in comparison to consignments made for the most certainly been made and while the reverberations are April auction. “There was a lot of uncertainty then and it was still felt, the estimates for the upcoming auction are “roughly 64 equivalent” to those of the April sale. “October is going to while the other is a two-metre high figural painting (estimate be much more telling than April,” says Lawrie. Indeed it is. $140,000-160,000). While some auction aficionados have Works in the ‘recur’ category include a Dubai Christie’s commented on the recurring ‘staples’ at Dubai Christie’s sales sale regular – Syrian Modern master Fateh Moudarres, whose – Moudarres, Louay Kayyali, Paul Guiragossian and Charles two works, says Lawrie, are among “the best” the auction Hossein Zenderoudi, among others – in reality, their supply house has ever offered, largely due to their size – one is a is a response to an existing, steadfast demand. “The fact is,” three-metre-wide landscape (estimate $180,000-250,000), adds Lawrie, “the regulars appear because there has always been demand for them. They sell.” The sale will feature quality Previous page: Fateh Moudarres. Untitled. 1970. Oil on canvas. 172 x 313 cm. pieces from a variety of private collections in the Middle East Estimate $180,000–250,000. Above: Erol Akyavas. Untitled. Mid-1950s. Oil on canvas. 92 x 178 cm. and Europe and will present strong selections of works by Estimate $70,000–100,000. Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi and Egyptian artists. 65 preview "You wouldn’t be able to assume that some artists are not ‘auction-ready’ yet. It’s all about finding things that are both fresh and established.” - William Lawrie, Christie's Islamic Arts Specialist. Some new kids on the auction block include the likes at the Venice Biennale. The Turkish selection – standing at an of Lebanese artists Flavia Codsi and Oussama Baalbaki, impressive 23 pieces, some of which are museum-quality lots Moroccan Zakaria Ramhani, Iranian Mania Akbari and Syrian – include works by Ömer Uluç, Erol Akyavas, Selma Gürbüz Sara Shamma, among others. Might it be premature to feature and Kemal Önsoy, among others. Three works by Akyavas, some of these young, emerging artists at auction? “Looking at widely considered one of the most important Turkish artists this auction, you wouldn’t be able to assume that some artists of the 20th century, may be of particular interest to collectors are not ‘auction-ready’ yet. It’s all about finding things that are of Middle Eastern art. The infusion of Turkish art at the Dubai both fresh and established,” says Lawrie. Christie’s auctions has not only widened the collector scope Christie’s have also been instrumental in introducing art but also planted the seeds of interest in Middle Eastern art in from new regions, namely Saudi Arabia and Turkey, which will the minds of Turkish collectors. “They’re warming up,” says feature significantly in the October sale. Among the inclusion Lawrie of this rapidly expanding group, “they can see some of Saudi pieces are works by three female photographers: sort of relationship between their Modern art and that of Arab Reem Al-Faisal, Manal Al-Dowayan and Maha and Iranian Modern art.” v Above: Malluh, all of whose work was exhibited at The Dubai Christie’s International Modern and Flavia Codsi. Untitled. 2009. Oil on canvas. 213 x 186 cm. Estimate the groundbreaking Saudi Contemporary art Contemporary Art sale will take place on 27 October. For $12,000–18,000. exhibition, Edge of Arabia, currently showing more information visit www.christies.com 66
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