living

Shirin Neshat’s I Am Its Secret

Damien Hirst shows off his famous formaldehyde animals Join t he Glittering price tags, show-stopping artworks

and the world’s most : influential art titans –

Middle Eastern art is A G a ll ery

hotter than ever Lebanese artist Nadine t e s y XV By Carrie Buckle Kanso, who lives in Dubai

a rt t er h ou s e & d o dd . cour Power players t e s y wa ashion and art go hand in wave of talent from the Middle East. He auction in Dubai in 2006. Since then, . cour hand and, with the Middle plans to exhibit their work at his new gallery, Sotheby’s and Phillips have opened branches c l oc k wi s e from t op rig ht oppo s i t e page, t e s y B21 ga ll ery. East’s fashion presence steadily which opened in London’s Chelsea last in the region. The investment has paid off, growing, the region is now fast month, after accumulating the work from with the volume of modern Arab and cementing its status at the galleries such as B21 in Dubai, which shows Iranian art sold at auction each year vanguard of the art world. Art the likes of Lebanese artist Nadine Kanso. increasing from Dhs6.3 million in 2006 to impresario Charles Saatchi’s new protégés Iranian-born Sara Rahbar is one artist Dhs108 million in 2008, according to ai n /ge tt y image s for RFW are hand-picked from the Middle East, Saatchi has invested in. “The work of these ArtTactic. Average prices have increased by Fauction houses are fetching record-breaking 260 per cent. When a sculpture by Iranian

prices in the region and Abu Dhabi’s Crown “The best Middle artist Parviz Tanavoli sold for more than a s ca l e egre t Prince has just been named one of the most Dhs10 million at Christie’s in Dubai earlier powerful movers in the art industry Eastern art is witty, this year, it was a defining moment. The alongside the world’s richest living artist, hair-raising and as most expensive work ever sold by a modern AFP / G e tt y I mage s . cour t er h ou s e & d o dd . S au n C urry/

Damien Hirst, who takes the top spot. sharp as a scalpel” Iranian artist at auction, it was symbolic of s -a b u dh a i. P t pari

At number 30 in ArtReview magazine’s says charles saatchi the importance of Middle Eastern art. t e s y wa Power 100 list 2008, Sheikh Mohammed With auction houses heading to Dubai, t e s y ar bin Zayed Al Nahyan beats Lucian Freud, in artists from the Middle East looks very the region’s art scene has been gathering : cour 66th place, and Miuccia Prada, at 87. At no different to the art we are used to seeing worldwide attention from renowned other time has the region’s art been so talked from America, Europe and China,” says collectors. Tanavoli was one of 15 artists about by collectors and fans – and the works 45-year-old Saatchi. “Some of this Middle showcased at the groundbreaking Routes have impressive price tags to match. East art is witty, some is hair-raising, and show (Artroutes.com) at Waterhouse & t er h ou s e & d o dd (2). cour Saatchi, famous for launching Hirst in the best works are as sharp as a scalpel.” Dodd in London last month. It was the

the 1990s by buying his iconic shark in The boom has been fuelled by buyers in largest “selling exhibition” of contemporary t e s y wa cour formaldehyde, is championing this new the Middle East, following Christie’s first Middle Eastern art London has ever seen. c l oc k wi s e from t op ef T h i s page,

278|Harper’s BAZAAR|November 2008 credit Art loverDariaZhukova, girlfriend ofRoman powerful artplayer Abramovich anda aae n b Dai rm oebr 17 November from Dhabi Abu in Palace Emirates at fair art the at artists Routes its show will Dodd & Waterhouse collectors. worldwide luring as well as – Warhol and MatissePicasso,Dali, of likes the alongside show to chance the artists Eastern Middle giving are DhabiParis-Abu Art and Dubai region, we are given aprivileged insight.” Through art and culture coming out of that comes a desire to understand more about it. that With here. happening developments says topical,” Patterson. obviously “We continue to hear news about is “The East now? spotlight Middle the in Middle art is Eastern why region, the in awareness is market art Eastern witnessing agreat surgeofgrowth.” Middle says “The astounding,” “The been Patterson.Dodd’sJemimah Waterhouse & Essaydi. has Lalla response artist celebrated Moroccan by photographs of exhibition UK first the Crossroads, ran this Alongside protégés one ofSaatchi’s new W Contemporary art fairs such as Art Art as such fairs art Contemporary creating houses auction from Aside ork bySaraRahbar,

Hossein Zenderoudi art pioneerCharles W ork byIranian running foryears tocome. running and setting in motion an engine that will be world, art international the in presence its said earlier thisyear. Krens Thomas director pharaonic,” is it describe to of think can I expression no There’s Gehry. denying its international impact. “The only Frank museum by Guggenheim a designed and feature Louvre will a that resort Abu luxury in a Island Dhabi, Saadiyat for plans his to inMoscow.who isopeningagallery be inspired by his girlfriend, Daria to Zhukova, worth seems that interest art an million, owns Dhs980 latter The place). 54th (in Abramovich Roman tycoon Russian as art powerful such scene art the of titans most beats player,he 30th world’s the As throne. the to line in second Nahyan, Al Zayed bin Mohammed Sheikh by helped – radar art the on firmly itself planting is Middle a for Eastern painteratDhs5.87 million. record auction the holds who Zenderoudi, Hossein Charles artist fetched world presale Iranianshow also will estimate. gallery The its the times seven – million of Dhs2.2 Swarovski-crystal- map his studded and auction, at price of a more than US$1 to achieve million (Dhs3.67 million) artist Iranian first the the was as he Hirst, to answer East’s hailed Middle – Moshiri Farhad there’s Then Dhs970,000. to up explores fetching photo work single a with world, Islamic whose the in women Neshat, Shirin to 21. The line-up will include Iranian-born The Middle East is certainly ramping up ramping certainly is East Middle The thanks list the made Prince Crown The All this comes at a time when Abu Dhabi Dhabi exhibitionattracted Last year’s ArtParis-bu a wealthofinterest

Property ma n Middle Eastern artists to watch this month,off meets four Bazaar Paris-Abu With Art kicking Dhabi abstract painterW that hisfavouriteartistisRussian-born visual melodies,soit’s nosurprisetohear permeated withtheseheritages.” Arabic culture,” hesays.“ All mybeingis and Africancultures, andinparticular the like theheirofEuro-M editerranean a biginspiration.“BeingTunisian, Ifeel cultural traditions,suchastextilearts,are for hisdetailedworkininkonparchment. “choreographer ofletters” andisfamous calligraphy, hehasbeendescribedasa ArabrtinQatar.Modern A masterof Museum inLondonandtheof including theBritish is inprestigious museums Dhs184,000 each.Hiswork selling formore than known intheartworld, mazes ofcolourare well Mahdaoui’s breathtaking renowned livingartists, One ofTunisia’s most Dhabi,” Paris-Abu Dhabi.“ I plantogoAbu Dodd willshowcasehisworkat Art November 13,andthenW Dar Al-FunoonGalleryinKuwait City until Triptych Gammarth Mahdaoui’s His workshavebeendescribedas Still livinginhishomecountry, its Mahdaoui isholdingasoloexhibition at ja Hot hd November 2008 aoui assily Kandinsky. | Harper’s BAZAAR aterhouse & on Papyrus Calligramm | 279 living

Two pieces from Essaydi’s parviz Converging tanavoli Territories collection Hailed as the father of modern sculpture in Iran, Tanavoli’s works fetch record prices. His 2007 sculpture Standing Heech has a price tag of Dhs349,000. He has been cultural advisor to the Queen of Iran and as fast as he creates sculptures, they’re snapped up. But when he started out in Tehran in the 1950s, there was not much of a scene to break into. “The country had no famous sculptors, only monuments made lalla essaydi by other countries,” he says. “I thought Her beautiful photographs of veiled and roots, provide artistic inspiration. “As an Michelangelo was the only sculptor.” unveiled Arab women, inscribed by hand Arab artist living in the West, I have an Nowadays there are countless Iranian with henna, have been garnering fans extraordinary perspective from which to sculptors and Tanavoli, who was director across the globe, and now Lalla Essaydi’s observe both cultures,” she says. “I feel of sculpture at Tehran University for 18 first UK solo exhibition has planted her I inhabit a crossroads, where the cultures years, is credited with influencing two firmly on the art world’s hot list. Visitors merge and sometimes clash.” artistic generations. “My work is inspired to Waterhouse & Dodd in London have The Middle East will get to see art from by Islamic architecture and Iranian marvelled at Essaydi’s artworks – and it’s her recent series at Art Paris-Abu Dhabi. poetry,” he says. “As a child, I used to easy to see why, with a single photograph “It is a privilege to be showing there,” she visit local shrines with my mother. I was commanding up to Dhs130,000. says. “I have a lot of respect for all the Born in Marrakech, Morocco, and one artists, as they’re pioneers of modern art.” of five girls and 11 siblings, she grew up in While Essaydi won’t name-drop, she a conservative Muslim family that praised says: “I believe there are few celebrities her brothers “because they were boys”. that own my work, but I promised not to She later lived in Saudi Arabia before tell.” With her following growing at such a studying in Paris, and now resides in New fast pace, she’s flying the flag for Middle York. Her childhood, and her conflicting Eastern art in true style. t er h ou s e & d o dd

wijdan t e s y wa As Jordanian ambassador for Italy, HRH Princess Wijdan Al-Hashemi, whose professional name is simply Wijdan, moved

from Amman to Rome two years ago. But t e s y c h ri st ie’ . cour her Jordanian roots are never far away from her thoughts – or her work. Her paintings use what has Tanavoli’s Poet In been coined ‘calligraffiti’ – Love and (right) Standing Heech modern Arab calligraphy. “It comes from my heritage, touched by the quality of workmanship, which is what defines my and this can be seen in my work.” identity,” she says. His favourite artists include David Her art, which sells for

Smith, known for his large steel abstract more than Dhs110,000 l o nd n (2). cour t e s y oc o b er ga ll ery, sculptures (“I admire how he handled the per painting, has proved a metal”), and Roy Lichtenstein – “I like his success; Queen Rania of sense of humour, creativity and the way Jordan owns several of her he was such a novel artist.” works and she has exhibited Love Series 2 Tanavoli visits the UAE this month to in galleries such as The Wijdan’s unveil a unique bronze at Art Paris-Abu National Museum of Women Night Cutter t er h ou s e & d o dd (3). cour Dhabi, created for the fair. “I’m a guest in Art in Washington DC, of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin alongside the likes of Mexican artist Frida t e s y wa Zayed Al Nahyan,” he says. Kahlo. And after taking part in the Routes He is thrilled at the current focus on exhibition in London, collectors will be able art from this part of the world. “It’s been to see her work at Art Paris-Abu Dhabi. too long that Middle Eastern artists have So why does she think Middle Eastern art been in the darkness,” he says. “This is is getting such recognition? “Because the time for them to be recognised.” people are becoming more educated about Calligraphic Abstraction it,” she says. “I love it. It’s high time.” n Cl oc k wi s e from t op: cour

280|Harper’s BAZAAR|November 2008