Christie’s London to host the largest exhibition of Arab art this July
Christie’s London will host Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World, the largest showcase of modern and contemporary art from the Arab world in London, this July. The exhibition will feature masterpieces from the Barjeel Art Foundation and renowned Emirati artists.
Image: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. Christie’s London. July 2023. © MTotoe.
Christie's in London is hosting an exhibition this July, celebrating the Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. In collaboration with the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Barjeel Art Foundation, this exhibition is the most extensive showcase of its kind in London to date. Running from 20 July - 23 August, the exhibit features a collection of works spanning over 80 years of creativity, from 1939 to 2023.
Image: Mohammed Ghani Hikmat(1929, Baghdad - 2011, Amman).Bab El Gharbaa (Gateway to the West). The Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation part of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. Christie’s London. July 2023. © MTotoe.
Image: Safia Farhat (1924, Radès- 2004, Radès). La mariée (The Bride) 1963,The Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation part of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. Christie’s London. July 2023. © MTotoe.
The first part of the exhibition, titled The Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation, pays homage to the artistic diversity and dynamism of West Asia and North Africa. This section showcases an impressive selection of artworks from the Barjeel Art Foundation, highlighting both celebrated and underrepresented artists from the Arab world. With a focus on gender balance, it presents masterpieces from prominent figures like Huguette Caland, Ibrahim El-Salahi, Etel Adnan, and more. At the same time, it sheds light on lesser-known artists whose contributions have significantly shaped modern Arab art.
Image: Hassan Sharif (1951, Bandar Lengeh - 2016, Dubai) Cloth 2. Emirati Art Reimagined: Hassan Sharif and the Contemporary Voices part of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. Christie’s London. July 2023. © MTotoe.
Image: Hussain Sharif (b. 1961, Dubai) Untitled. Emirati Art Reimagined: Hassan Sharif and the Contemporary Voices part of Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. Christie’s London. July 2023. © MTotoe.
The second segment, Emirati Art Reimagined: Hassan Sharif and the Contemporary Voices, delves into the career of Hassan Sharif, a pioneering Emirati conceptual artist. The exhibition features one of the largest private collections of Sharif's works, spanning his artistic journey from London in the 1980s until his passing in 2015. Visitors can explore a profound legacy, and several of Sharif's remarkable pieces, including Cloth 2, Press Conference No.6, Wedding A, and Images in Iron – No. 4, are available for immediate purchase through Private Sales. The exhibition also includes artworks by contemporary Emirati artists, such as Mohammed Kazem, Mohamed Ahmed Ibrahim, and others, who continue to challenge artistic norms and shape the creative landscape of the United Arab Emirates.
Image: Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World. Christie’s London. July 2023. © MTotoe.
With its vast and diverse collection of artworks, the exhibition offers a unique opportunity to gain insight into the rich history of art in the Arab world.
Date: 20 July – 23 August 2023. Location: Christie's, 8 King St, St. James's, London, SW1Y 6QT. Price: Free. Website: christies.com.