Christie’s unveils first look of upcoming contemporary middle eastern art auction

This is Iraqi-American artist of Kurdish descent Hayv Kahraman The Interpreter a 2016 work, an oil on wood in two parts, uniting Asian and European influences, drawing inspiration from several feminist ideologies, and exploring the concept of women burdened by their own culture. The painting is estimated to fetch up to $80.525 at the upcoming online sale of Contemporary Middle Eastern Art that is being organised by Christie’s from October 12 to November 3 along with a live auction for Modern Middle Eastern Art on November 2.

Christie’s Middle East will host a diverse first look — from mirrored disco balls to painted diptychs — of some of its forthcoming Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art auctions at its gallery in DIFC Gate Village (Building 5, Podium level) between September 16 and 24. Art enthusiasts can also get a rare glimpse of pieces from Robert Devereux’s Sina Jina Collection, underscoring the growing regional interest in African art.

Collectors have the opportunity to see the late Iranian artist Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian’s reverse glass mosaic Mirror Ball from the 1970s, examples of which were included in the artist’s 2015 retrospective at the Guggenheim in New York, and one of which was a gift from the artist to her dear friend Andy Warhol. The exquisite artwork is estimated to fetch $92,110.

A lightbox by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Ahmed Mater entitled Evolution of Man (2010) will illuminate the Christie’s showroom, echoing the country’s rapid growth since the discovery of oil. It is estimated to fetch $34,540.

BIG NUMBER

$4.1 BILLION

Christie’s revenue between January and June, 2022, according to Dr. Ridha Moumni, Deputy Chairman, Christie’s Middle East & North Africa

The late Palestinian painter and art historian Kamal Boullata’s painting Angelus II-1 (2017) demonstrates his command of colourful geometric abstraction, honed through years of study at the Fine Arts Academy in Rome and the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. It is estimated to fetch upwards of $40,000.

This is Palestinian artist Hazem Harb’s 2019 painting, which layers acrylic lettering spelling out ‘Hollyland’ in Hollywood’s ubiquitous squared lettering over an archival photograph of Jerusalem and is estimated to fetch more than $40,000.

The auctions present iconic pieces from the Arab World and Iran, including masterpieces of Mohammed Melehi, Monir Farmanfarmaian and Etel Adnan. The auctions also present a more contemporary focus, including both emerging and established artists from the region such as Ali Cherri, Dana Awartani, Ahmed Mater, and YZ Kami.

Following Christie's collaboration with Gallery 1957 in December 2021 to showcase African art in the UAE, Christie’s Dubai will exhibit works from Robert Devereux’s Sina Jina Collection. The 70-work auction on 13 October in London is anticipated to be the largest single-owner sale of contemporary art from Africa and the diaspora as demand continues to expand.

Robert Devereux has supported the arts and artists since the 1980’s and began acquiring works for his Sina Jina Collection in the early 2000’s. Taking its name from Swahili, ‘sina jina’ translates as a place with no name, a phrase associated with Devereux’s house on the island of Lamu, Kenya.

Who is Dr. Ridha Moumni?