CHRISTIE'S AUCTION OF MODERN & CONTEMPORARY
ARAB, IRANIAN & TURKISH ART
24 OCTOBER 2012, 7:00PM JUMEIRAH EMIRATES TOWERS HOTEL, DUBAI, UAE
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Six lots donated by 7 artists and their galleries will be sold to benefit Caspian Arts Foundation. These will be auctioned off on October 24th at Christie's Modern & Contemporary Arab, Iranian & Turkish art sale in Dubai.
This is the first time these artists' works will be sold at an international auction. Funds raised will go to benefit Caspian Arts Foundation and the scholarships that will be awarded in 2013.
AYAD ALKHADI At The Beginning
Acrylic, pen, charcoal and pencil on canvas
72 x72in. (183 x183cm.)
Executed in 2012
Alkadhi escaped Iraq in 1994 and settled in California but his work is dominated by the effect of the war described by the artist as “the emotional arc by which one compares all other experiences….”. Here the contrasting bright and dark colours and the distorted and monstrous shapes reflect the artist’s internal struggle as he relives the atrocities witnessed in his homeland.
DONATED BY THE ARTIST AND THE LEILA HELLER GALLERY, NEW YORK
SHOJA AZARI & SHAHRAM KARIMI Spring (from the Silence series)
Arcylic on canvas with video projection
50 x 89in. (127 x 226 cm)
Executed in 2007-2008, this work is number one from an edition of three
From the Silence series, this is one of four video paintings representing the seasons – a collaboration between these two lifelong artist friends. Abstract views of a lake are depicted here with subtle movements of wind, water and rain suggested by the projection of a mirror image onto the painted canvas, bringing the flat surface to life.
DONATED BY THE ARTISTS AND LEILA HELLER GALLERY, NEW YORK
SHIRAZEH HOUSHIARY untitled
Signed and dated 'Shirazeh Houshiary' 2007 (on the reverse)
Mixed media
15 ¾ x 15 ¾ in. (40 x 40 cm)
Executed in 2007
The main characteristic of Houshiary’s much sought-after paintings and drawings are that they are intentionally barely visible - emerging from and melting into the black or white backgrounds. The artist explains that her work ‘comes and goes: sometimes you see it, sometimes you don’t. The universe is like that – everything is in a state of flux’. She acknowledges the influence of Sufism and 13th century Persian mystic poetry in her work.
DONATED BY THE ARTIST AND THE LISSON GALLERY, LONDON
HADIEH SHAFIE 11580 Pages (detail)
Acrylic, ink and paper with printed and hand-written Farsi
30 x 30 x 3 ½ in. (76.2 x 76.2 x 9 cm)
Executed in 2012
In this work, individual strips of paper marked with the word eshghe, (love or passion), have been delicately rolled to create miniature scrolls. Shafie’s work is inspired by the Sufist meditative prayer of the heart known as ‘dikhr’, where a single word is repeated. With only one work ever offered by the artist at auction, Shafie’s works are highly sought-after.
DONATED BY THE ARTIST AND THE LEILA-HELLER GALLERY, NEW YORK
Signed and dated 'ALI BANISADR 12' (lower right)
Signed and dated 'Ali Banisadr 2012 (on the reverse)
Oil on linen
30 x 36in. (76.2 x 91.4 cm)
Executed in 2012
Through the use of a bright palette and large brushstrokes, the artist evokes his chaotic memories of displacement and war. Originally from Tehran, a young Banisadr left the country with his family to settle in the United States where he now lives and works. He captures the brutality of the war in this broken and fragmented composition. Banisadr’s works have never been auctioned before, except for charity and, as he produces very few works, his works are rare.
DONATED BY THE ARTIST AND THADDEUS ROPAC GALLERY, PARIS
POURAN JINCHI Morning 06
Signed and dated 'Pjinchi 2009' (lower right)
Waxed charcoal and pencil on Rice paper
18 x 18in. (45.7 x 45.7 cm)
Executed in 2009
“What would a prayer look like if you were asked to draw it? I visualise the spiritual fulfilment of prayers and then translate that into aesthetic creations to see whether they relay what prayer could mean.” (Pouran Jinchi). Jinchi’s work is deeply rooted in her Persian to produce harmonious abstract compositions where the works become platforms for the act of prayer.
DONATED BY THE ARTIST AND THE THIRD LINE GALLERY, DUBAI
