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An important painting by Qatari artist Yousef Ahmad will go under the hammer alongside a selection of works representing the very best of western and eastern contemporary art at Sotheby’s Doha sale on October 13. |
Ahmad’s Letter of Love III, painted in 2008 and estimated at $10,000-15,000 is considered one of his most representative works.
The artist and scholar, recognised as being a highly influential figure in the Middle East modern art movement, has worked closely with Qatar Museums vice-chairman and Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art founder Sheikh Hassan bin Mohamed bin Ali al-Thani, to collect significant works of Arab art from Qatar and abroad.
Speaking to Gulf Times as she prepares to fly into Doha for the auction and pre-sale exhibition, Lina Lazaar Jameel, co-head of sale international contemporary art specialist, Sotheby’s, said: “Ahmad is not only a figure of success in terms of art exposure but he also communicates knowledge and understanding of visual arts in general. He is one of the pioneers of modern art in the GCC who heavily influenced a lot of the Saudi 80s and 90s artists. We were able to secure an artwork that is one of his most representative – with colour tones reflecting the influence of the desert.”
Ahmad who has exhibited throughout the US, Europe, and the Arab world, is inspired by the forms and hues of the desert landscape of his native Qatar and by Arabic calligraphy.
There is a lot of excitement building around some ground breaking aspects of the sale. These include the first video artwork to be auctioned by internationally acclaimed Iranian artist Shirin Neshat, and works by five of the most influential Saudi artists to be united for the first time ever at auction.
Other highlights of the sale include works by Sterling Ruby, Tracey Emin, Lawrence Weiner, Aaron Young, Lucien Smith, and Khalil Rabah alongside major names such as Monir Farmanfarmaian, Nja Mahdaoui, Damien Hirst, and Anish Kapoor.
Rabah’s United States of Palestine Airlines (London Office) is a unique work. The 2007 creation comprises five fibreglass planes, a leather sofa, glazed world map, four aluminium clocks, three metal glass wall divisions, two Perspex sheets and a plastic display cabinet. The work is estimated at $200,000-250,000.
Co-director of the sale, Aileen Agopian, Sotheby’s senior vice-president, international contemporary art specialist, spoke to Gulf Times from New York prior to setting off for Doha where she will join Lazaar for the pre-sale exhibition.
“Lina and I have really strategised about who we felt would be the most compelling artists for the sale. We also considered who hasn’t been offered in the Middle East and which of these artists work would be the most compelling to offer in a Doha context. It’s something we are constantly talking about because we are both so passionate about the artists and their work,” she said.
Lina added: “I am based in the Middle East with a strong focus on London and Europe and Aileen is mainly covering the US and North America out of New York. We get to complement each other very well with both the European and American teams: we meet regularly around the highlights exhibitions and around the auctions to discuss the sales.”
She explained: “We are looking to have quite a small, tightly curated museum quality auction in Qatar. It’s about creating the most cohesive, interesting dialogue between east and west and parallels between artists from the same generation across borders.”
The two curators will be on hand at the pre-sale exhibition in Doha to give personal expert guidance to interested parties. Right now their focus is on ensuring that all those with an interest in the sale are fully informed about the auction and that means a global outreach.
“We are in constant sale mode right now. Making sure that people around the world are aware – last year we had bidders from 21 countries – it was a worldwide sales strategy and reach,” said Agopian.
The pre-sale exhibition, in partnership with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, will open to the public today (Katara Art Centre, Building 5, Doha, 2pm-10pm daily) and run throughout Eid until the auction itself at the same venue on October 13 at 7pm.