The First Christie’s Art Auction in Abu Dhabi

The first Christie’s art auction in Abu Dhabi
Christie’s, the international art auction house, will hold its first visual arts auction in Abu Dhabi on November 1st; an event featuring 70 works from 9 decades of modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa, including works by Iranian artists. This auction also commemorates the 20th anniversary of Christie’s operations in the UAE.
The list of works includes the name of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, an Iranian artist known for her mirror work and the combination of traditional Iranian art with modern art. A work by Charles Hossein Zenderoudi, a prominent figure in modern Iranian art, is also included in this collection.
Alongside these works, the painting “Café Baghdad” by Faisal Laibi Sahi, an Iraqi artist, is one of the highlighted pieces of the auction. This painting, created in 2016, depicts everyday life in an Iraqi coffee house with the presence of scholars, merchants, workers, and storytellers. Its estimated value is between 1.47 to 2.2 million dirhams.
Another piece is “Composition” by Fakhr Al-Nisa Zaid, a Jordanian artist of Turkish descent, inspired by an aerial view of Baghdad, Islamic architecture, and Byzantine mosaics. The estimated value of this painting is between 1.84 to 2.57 million dirhams.
Additionally, the portrait of Princess Fadia, the younger daughter of King Farouk, the last king of Egypt, by Mahmoud Said, an Egyptian painter, will be offered at this auction. This portrait was painted in 1952, a few months before the Egyptian Revolution and the end of monarchy in the country.
This auction, titled “Mawasim,” meaning seasons in Arabic, showcases the evolution of modern and contemporary art in the region.
Before the auction, the works will be displayed in London from October 8 to 14. The Abu Dhabi exhibition will also be held from October 28 to November 1 at The Abu Dhabi EDITION hotel. The live auction will start at 5 PM on November 1st.
Source: Gulf Times and National News