The Middle East is known for its traditional geometric and calligraphic art forms. What is less well known is its thriving modern art scene, as James Bennett reports

Art has been a prominent part of life in the Arab world ever since Islam began in the 7th century. Arabesque (an elaborate Islamic art form of repeating geometric patterns and designs usually found decorating the walls of mosques) and calligraphy (intricately painted and scribed letters or words and passages from the Koran) are well known to the Western world, however, 20th- and 21st-century Arabic art appears to have been widely ignored. Until now.

Art in the Gulf is exploding and a new generation of artists, collectors, exhibitors and permanent galleries are coming together to be part of the talent revolution. Several key events are also taking place that will mean a colourful future for the art scene in the Middle East, including the inaugural Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC)-sponsored Gulf Art Fair held from 8-10 March.

Both the Guggenheim and Louvre museums, the latter in a reportedly $1bn deal, have said that they will have permanent bases on the gigantic $27bn Saadiyat Island (Island of Happiness) project in the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi, that is set for completion by 2018. Meanwhile, the UK’s secretary of state for culture, Tessa Jowell, has set rumours flying – following her recent trip to the Emirates – that the Tate may also be joining its US and French counterparts.

In February Christie’s completed its second round of auctions in the Gulf, with two large sales in jewellery and contemporary art raising a staggering $20m in the process. Dozens of highly desirable Arab, Iranian, Indian and Western works ranging from traditional calligraphy to abstract and figurative paintings in traditional and contemporary styles were on offer while, for the first time, contemporary photography made an appearance.

The highlights of the jewellery auction included a magnificent, potentially flawless 16.51-carat marquise-cut diamond ring by Van Cleef & Arpels. The art sale showcased works from many of the most prominent Middle Eastern, Iranian, Indian and Western artists alongside a particularly strong contemporary photography section. Starting with an expanded selection of Arab art, the sale comprised work by artists from a wider spread of countries than in Christie’s May 2006 inaugural auction in Dubai, with works from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.

‘Following the intense interest and record sales generated by our first Dubai sale, the 2007 auction brought with it a larger and more comprehensive collection of works with its core elements being Middle Eastern and Indian art,’ says Michael Jeha, managing director of Christie’s Dubai. ‘Last year’s feedback was phenomenal and saw more than 90 per cent of pieces sold. A comparable figure in other parts of the world would be between 60 per cent and 70 per cent.’

Works by prominent Gulf artists, including Abdul Kadir alRais of the UAE and Youssef Ahmed from Qatar, were featured, while the contemporary section included a large print on canvas by the Iranian master Abbas Kiarostami and another piece by his prodigy, Bahman Jalali, as well as works by the Egyptian artist Youssef Nabil.

A total of 53 per cent of this year’s buyers were UAE residents. ‘The majority of those were Arabs, followed by Indians and UAE nationals,’ Jeha says. ‘Emiratis are showing an increasing interest in art as an investment as they are getting more educated and exposed to the scene.’ This year’s auction also saw a rising enthusiasm from European buyers for Middle Eastern art. They bought 20 per cent of the works.

‘Many see the art pieces we offer as a great investment opportunity,’ Jeha says. ‘As a general observation art collectors buy patriotically. Iraqis buy Iraqi art, Lebanese buy art from Lebanon and so forth. That’s why we also included a large Indian section, since there are many Indians living in the UAE.’

Jeha is also quick to point out that the Arab world and Iran have always been vibrant centres for the production of modern art, particularly during the second half of the 20th century. ‘Contemporary art in the UAE still has much untapped potential. The Indian contemporary market is slightly more advanced,’ he says.

Christie’s opened in Dubai in April 2005 and was the first international auction house to have a permanent base in the region. Besides the auctions, the house also aims to support and enlarge the local art scene, with a number of new galleries and public exhibitions opening on an almost weekly basis.

‘Christie’s definitely helps to promote art in the Middle East through our activities. We want to stage more auctions in Dubai, and we are planning exhibitions in Kuwait and Qatar,’ adds Jeha. The Gulf is also exhibiting some interesting regional artists. Pieces by Iranian Shadi Ghadirian and Egyptian Susan Hefuna’s photographs have all been shown in recent months at galleries such as the Third Line, B21, the Majlis Gallery and the Bagash Art Gallery.

Thanks to its strategic location between Europe, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent, and the relative ease of doing business, Dubai has become the region’s art-trading hub. The culmination of all this interest will make the DIFC Gulf Art Fair one of the biggest contemporary art events in the region. It will also be followed by the Sharjah Biennial in April. The DIFC fair will showcase 40 of the world’s leading contemporary and modern galleries under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice-president and prime minister of UAE and ruler of Dubai.

Organised by concierge service Quintessentially and the Jumeirah Group, the DIFC Fair will offer international collectors the chance to see the finest contemporary art within the sumptuous surroundings of the Madinat Jumeirah, in the shadows of the iconic Burj Al Arab. The internationally renowned line-up will include galleries such as New York’s Max Lang, London’s White Cube, Beijing’s Pekin Fine Arts, Mumbai’s Gallery Chemould and Dubai’s very own The Third Line.

John Martin, director of the Gulf Art Fair, agrees that it is Dubai’s location that makes it such a special draw for art collectors and says it is set to become a major centre for the global art market. ‘Situated within easy reach of Russia, India and Southeast Asia, it is ideally placed to become the focal point for some of the most exciting new art markets in the world,’ he adds. ‘In bringing together the most innovative art in one of the world’s most dynamic countries, the Gulf Art Fair hopes to establish Dubai as Asia’s leading centre for contemporary art.’

A three-day educational programme, sponsored by Christie’s rival Sotheby’s, will also bring international speakers to the Emirates to discuss contemporary art and collecting, while site-specific installations by international artists such as Patricia Millns, Parviz Tanavoli and Lara Baladi will add to the event’s multicultural flavour. For those not so fortunate to be in the Madinat’s main arena, a contemporary regional art fair organised by Dubai’s growing number of galleries will take place along the Creek in conjunction with the Third Line.

Despite there being no public galleries in Dubai the good news is entrance fees do not as yet exist and some of these businesses, such as the Third Line, and the beautifully original XVA, located near the Dubai Museum, have made huge strides in helping the city move away from clichéd drawings of camels and instead towards powerful exhibitions that reflect the Emirates’ multicultural population and forward-thinking approach.

The most recently opened gallery is Meem Gallery, devoted to showing the best in Middle Eastern and Arabic art. Its inaugural exhibition was by Libyan painter Ali Omar Ermes, who uses Arabic script in his work. At first glance Ermes’ pictures appear rooted in Arabic calligraphy with an often large single character of the alphabet surrounded by smaller Arabic inscriptions. However, it is often his love of colour and composition that attracts foreign buyers, painting on high-quality paper in water colours and using messages on subjects as diverse as meditations on life, religion, morality and compassion.

Never mind the towering construction and the ever-expanding malls, the Emirates is also trying to become one of region’s great art destinations.

Galleries

FIVE GREEN
Garden Home, Oud Metha Road
Tel: (+971) 4336 4100
Open Saturday-Thursday
10am-10pm; Friday 4pm-10pm.
Five Green offers regular art
exhibitions that are cutting-edge
affairs and showcases artists from
the Middle East and beyond.
www.fivegreen.com

THE MAJLIS GALLERY
Bastakia roundabout, Bur Dubai
Tel: (+971) 4353 6233
Open Saturday-Thursday
9.30am-8pm
The Majlis Gallery, with its shaded
courtyard and small rooms, is a
welcome retreat from the hectic
pace of Dubai and showcases
local and international art.
www.majlisgallery.com

THE THIRD LINE
Al Quoz 3, near The Courtyard, by
Marlin Furniture and Spinneys
Tel: (+971) 4341 1367
Open Saturday-Thursday
11am-8pm
Since The Third Line opened in
2005, it has played host to a
stream of intelligent and memorable
exhibitions. The gallery has a
lively programme of events which
uphold its mission statement to
promote lively dialogue between
artist and viewer.
www.thethirdline.com

Where to stay

JW MARRIOTT HOTEL
Abu Baker Al Siddique Road
Dubai
Tel: (+971) 4262 4444
www.marriott.com

PALM BEACH ROTANA INN
Khalid Bin Walid Road
Dubai
Tel: (+971) 4393 1999
www.rotana.com

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT
GREEN COMMUNITY DUBAI
Green Community
PO Box 63845
Dubai
Tel: (+971) 4885 2222
www.marriott.com

GRAND HYATT DUBAI
PO Box 7978
Dubai
Tel: (+971) 4317 1234
www.dubai.grand.hyatt.com

TOWERS ROTANA HOTEL
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai
Tel: (+971) 4343 8000
www.rotana.com