SYRIA’S PREMIER ART GALLERY OPENS IN DUBAI MAY 2008 MAY T h e s t o r i e s behind the In discussion HOTTEST with the key Contemporary players of the artists on the Middle Eastern Syrian scene art market N a v i g a t i n g the road to success for Modern and Contemporary Arab art From the Syrian capital to the heart of the Middle East’s art market, Ayyam Gallery boasts a vast array of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art. The new Ayyam-Dubai gallery continues to promote the hottest Syrian art in a city that is breaking new ground through its cultural endeavours. From Damascus to Dubai, Ayyam Gallery has established itself as a powerful and passionate advocate of Modern and Contemporary Arab art. From time-honoured masters to young, upcoming talents, Ayyam’s stable of artists mirrors the richness, legacy and diversity of Syrian art. Since it first opened its doors in Damascus in November 2006, Ayyam’s name has become synonymous with an ever-expanding reach across the Middle East with its participation in regional and international art fairs, as well as the innovative First Ayyam Prize for Emerging Syrian Artists under their Shabab Ayyam Programme. An avid supporter of arts education, Ayyam has also published a vast number of artists’ books in the name of providing the region with a significant source of art literature. By publishing these books on their artists, Ayyam has helped to further promote the artistic legacy of Modern and Contemporary Syrian art. From the mesh of symmetry and faces of the renowned Safwan Dahoul to the abstract strokes and Sufi influence of the young Walid El-Masri, the artists of Syria have seen a dramatic rise in interest in collectors’ circles. Witnessing a new chapter through the launch of Ayyam-Dubai, the gallery continues to celebrate the wealth of Syrian talent and grow from strength to strength at their space in Showroom B11 on the Alserkal Warehouse Avenue in Al-Quoz. 03 A Promising Future Art is helping to open a new chapter in the life of the Middle East and Arab world THE MIDDLE EASTERN ART MARKET Samia HALABY «Yellow Spiral» 168X168cm Oil on Canvas 1970 Halaby's «Yellow Spiral» to be exhibited during Ayyam Dubai's opening show Youssef ABDELKE Ammar AL-BEIK Mouneer AL-SHAARANI Nihad AL-TURK Asaad ARABI His Excellency Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al-Owais, UAE Minister of Culture, visits the Ayyam Gallery stand at the inaugural Haughton Arts and Antiques Fair Dubai. Tammam AZZAM t last, Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian art is beginning drives towards independence and thereafter (the effects of which are still continuing Houssam BALLAN Opening 31/5/2008 to enjoy the attention it so richly deserves. Recognised as one of the today), led to a paralysis that stunted the development of the art market. Safwan DAHOUL hottest emerging markets in the world, second only to Chinese and Walid EL-MASRI Indian art, the masters of creativity from across the Gulf, Levant, It was the arrival of the auction houses in the region - the birth of the secondary Samia HALABY North Africa and Iran are becoming household names among the tier of the art market - that has really prompted worldwide awareness. Historically, Thaier HELAL world’s most esteemed collecting circles. pieces of Modern Arab and Iranian art were sold within the category of Islamic art by Mounzer KAMNAKACHE A auction houses such as Sotheby’s in London. However, it was the launch of Christie’s So what prompted this wave of global recognition and why has it taken so long? (Middle East) in Dubai in 2005 that prompted the creation of a new sales category Abdul-Karim MAJDAL AL-BEIK There are always a number of factors that contribute to the birth of an art market. Over - that of Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian art. This separate and distinct Abdullah MURAD the last 50 years, the Middle East and Arab world has witnessed the establishment classification encouraged other houses such as Sotheby’s and Bonhams to follow suit; Mouteea MURAD of a sprawling network of private galleries, offering buyers the option of purchasing setting up specific divisions and launching sales focusing on the region. This, in turn, Mohannad ORABI works from an ever-expanding stable of talent. This has built upon the established and led to collectors of other categories, such as Modern and Contemporary Western art Yaser SAFI more traditional model of arts patronage where artistic expression has been nurtured by and Islamic art, to expand their acquisition rationales to embrace this new category. Syria’s Premier Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery Kais SALMAN prominent individuals who served as patrons to selected artists. Over the last three years, there have been a total of five auctions of Modern and Khaled TAKRETI Damascus Mezzeh West Villas, 30 Chile Street, Samawi Building, Damascus - Syria However, one cannot deny the impact that regional instability has had on the art Contemporary Arab and Iranian art by leading international auction houses, with Fadi YAZIGI t. + 963 11 613 1088, f. + 963 11 613 1087, e. [email protected], w. www.ayyamgallery.com market. The trials and tribulations of the post-colonialist era and the subsequent social, other auctioneers such as Artcurial in Paris, France, and Compagnie Marocaine des Omran YOUNES Dubai Showroom B-11, Alserkal Warehouse Avenue, Street 8.Al Quoz, Dubai - UAE political and economic problems experienced by nations across the region during their Oeuvres et Objets d’Art (CMOOA) in Casablanca, Morocco, also opening up to the new Nassouh ZAGHLOULEH t. + 971 50 578 5782, e. [email protected], w. www.ayyamgallery.com 05 market. As a result, a growing number of artists from the Middle East and Arab world now have official sales records. The escalating sale prices of works have attracted the attention of a growing number of collectors from within the region and beyond who now appreciate not only the unbridled talent of practitioners but also the investment potential of art. It was the arrival of the auction houses in the region - the birth of the secondary tier of the art market - that has really prompted worldwide awareness. With the growing economic wealth of some countries (particularly those in the Gulf), art has become a symbol of social aspiration and an intellectual force to be reckoned with among those who possess excess financial liquidity. Matched by a pan-regional acknowledgement that it celebrates the multi-cultural heritage and plural identities existent within this The first editon of artparis-AbuDhabi attracted thousands of art lovers from across the UAE and beyond who richly diverse region of the world, art enjoyed myriad artworks, including those from the Ayyam Gallery stable of artists. has become not only desirable, but an incredibly important vehicle of expression and self-determination. On a more holistic note, Modern and Contemporary art is assuming an important role as a global ambassador for the Middle East and Arab world. While the ‘CNN-isation’ of the region has promoted a one-dimensional image, art is helping to change the international profiles of Iran and Arab countries; from nations riddled by conflict and disaster to lands steeped in a formidable cultural heritage and with an ever-evolving artistic expression that deals with a multitude of issues, subjects and concepts of a universal as well as regional relevance. THE MIDDLE EASTERN ART MARKET A growing number of artists from the Middle East and Arab world now have official sales Louay KAYYALI «Then What» 172x190cm Oil on Canvas 1965 records. The escalating sale Kayyali's masterpiece to be exhibited during Ayyam Dubai's opening show prices of works have attracted the attention of a growing number of collectors from within the region and beyond. A prospective bidder views a work by Ayyam Gallery artist Fadi Yazigi at a Christie’s auction of Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian art in Dubai. The Middle East and Arab world have now realised that art is an integral ingredient Youssef ABDELKE for healthy and successful societies. The Ammar AL-BEIK drive towards creativity has become the Mouneer AL-SHAARANI order of the day, bringing increased cultural Nihad AL-TURK tourism, and entrepreneurial thinking and Asaad ARABI intercultural communication. Who better to feed the roots of success than the artists? Tammam AZZAM Museums of Modern and Contemporary Houssam BALLAN Opening 31/5/2008 art, galleries and other cultural institutions Safwan DAHOUL that celebrate indigenous creative talent Walid EL-MASRI are taking root across the region - from Iran Samia HALABY to Algeria. Initiated by both governments Thaier HELAL and individuals, art is confronting audiences Mounzer KAMNAKACHE with what they don’t know, what they didn’t know or what they know in a way Abdul-Karim MAJDAL AL-BEIK they didn’t expect. Abdullah MURAD Mouteea MURAD Mohannad ORABI Yaser SAFI Syria’s Premier Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery Kais SALMAN Khaled TAKRETI Damascus Mezzeh West Villas, 30 Chile Street, Samawi Building, Damascus - Syria Fadi YAZIGI t. + 963 11 613 1088, f. + 963 11 613 1087, e. [email protected], w. www.ayyamgallery.com Omran YOUNES Dubai Showroom B-11, Alserkal Warehouse Avenue, Street 8.Al Quoz, Dubai - UAE Lord Poltimore conducting the October 2007 Sotheby’s auction of Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian art Nassouh ZAGHLOULEH t. + 971 50 578 5782, e. [email protected], w. www.ayyamgallery.com in London, where Syrian Safwan Dahoul’s untitled work from his ‘Rêve’ series sold for $69,813. 06 07 Art and Opinion ollectors Lamees Gargash and Bassam ART AND OPINION Kuzbari join Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Canvas Ali Khadra, Christie’s (Dubai) Managing Director Michael Jeha, Khaled Samawi and Hisham Samawi of Ayyam Gallery (Damascus and Dubai) to discuss the state of the Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art market.