Sotheby’s upcoming 20th-century Middle East art auction will be featuring creations of Gulf artists, such as Abdulrahman Al Soliman from Saudi Arabia and Mohammad Kazem and Hassan Sharif from the United Arab Emirates.
Paintings by the Saudi-Kuwaiti artist, Munira Al-Kazi, have also been selected.
A number of works presented at the Arab Gulf art department are being auctioned for the first time, said Sotheby’s Head of Sale and modern Arab art specialist Ashkan Baghestani.
The art company’s pre-auction is expected to put to public display these artworks on October 19.
For many years, Arab Gulf artists, experts and institutions have left an ambitious mark on the region’s cultural scene, working with a rich heritage and bringing neighbors closer together, said Baghestani.
Coupled with the company’s London-held international 2014 auction, which displayed influential Saudi artwork, the upcoming Sotheby’s sale extravaganza is in line with its supportive policy for championing Middle Eastern art.
Flourishing rapidly, contemporary art originating from the Gulf has become a vital destination for professional spectators.
Modern Arab artists have paved the way for emerging contemporary artists, added Baghestani in reference to works by pioneering artists such as Al Soliman and Sharif.
Sotheby's October lots for auction will be presenting two rare cubist-style works by Al Soliman: Worshippers leaving the Mosque (estimate: £50,000 - £70,000) and A Woman Sitting (estimate: £40,000 - £60,000).
Both paintings were recently exhibited at the Art Dubai Modern.
Dating back to 1981, the two pieces are prime examples of Al Soliman’s affinity for local architecture and nature, and they illustrate his artistic techniques and holistic approach.
He also turns the spotlight on influential women in his life.
Considered one of the most influential artists in Saudi modern art, Al Soliman is well-known for having strong faith in local art and celebrating Saudi heritage.
As for Emirati artist Kazem, he is one of the most prominent artists in the field of conceptual art. He used video, photography and performance as an outlet for artistic expression. The National Pavilion of the UAE at the 55th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale presented Kazem’s “Walking on Water.”
Kazem’s “Untitled" piece is executed with pastel on scratched paper varying abstract compositions, capturing and incorporating sound, light, and movement embodied on the page.
According to Sotheby's, "Untitled’s" use of color may depict a desert sunset. The painting is being auctioned for the first time with an estimate of £10,000 - £15,000.
“Olympiad N 2,” a painting by experimental artist Sharif, relays a clear impression on art in the Arabian Gulf and is expected to sell at a price estimate of £18,000 - £25,000.
The auction will also feature “Mother and Child”, a painting by Kazi dating back to 1960.
