"Routes" - An Exhibit of Middle Eastern Art in London

 

On October 7, 2008 Waterhouse & Dodd Gallery of London will be setting a trend by showcasing its first annual “Routes” exhibit, featuring renowned established and emerging artists from around the world. What makes this event important is that all artists were born in the Middle East, and their work is a reflection of their culture. The inaugural “Routes” exhibit features 15 artists from Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Palestine, Syria and Tunisia. PhotoEmerge is excited to see that the curators of “Routes” have shown a great interest in photography for this exhibit which are shown side by side with paintings by Farhad Moshiri and sculptures by Tanavoli. Parallel to “Routes” W&D is also showcasing “Crossroads”, displaying the featured work of Moroccan photographer Lalla Essaydi, who now lives in New York City. Other Photographers who are featured at “Routes” are Iranian Shirin Neshat of New York City, Syrian Laila Muraywid of Paris, and Iranian Naveed Nour of Boston. The exhibit will be held from October 7 – 25, 2008.(>>Exhibit Catalogue)

Bloomberg’s  Scott Reyburn writes:

“…The Middle East is one of the fastest-growing areas of the contemporary art market. In April at a $20 million sale at Christie's, Dubai, Tanavoli's bronze sculpture, ``The Wall (Oh Persepolis)'' sold for a record $2.84 million with fees. At the same auction, Zenderoudi's oil and acrylic painting ``Tchaar- bagh'' sold for $1.6 million, also a record, said Artnet. Both prices were multiples of the presale upper estimates.
`Shot in Arm'
``The market for Middle Eastern contemporary art has been given a huge shot in the arm by the auction houses,'' said Ray Waterhouse, co-director of the gallery, which exhibits at art fairs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. ``Prices in the salerooms are now often higher than those being charged by dealers.''

In January 2008, Waterhouse visited Abu Dhabi, where he said he was invited to give an introductory lecture on collecting art to an audience of 23 princesses.
Moshiri's 6-foot-high gold leaf and mixed media 2003 calligraphic abstract, ``Untitled,'' is priced at 150,000 pounds in the London show. In March at Bonhams, Dubai, Moshiri became the first Iranian artist to fetch seven-figures at auction when ``Eshgh -- Love'' sold for $1 million with fees.
Waterhouse & Dodd have marked Tanavoli's gilded bronze sculpture ``Standing Heech'' -- from an edition of nine -- at 50,000 pounds, while Zenderoudi's 1984 acrylic and monoprint painting, ``Joy Filled My Heart,'' retails at £34,500.

Visit “Routes” website >> Here

Pictures from top to bottom: Shirin Neshat's "I am it's Secret"; Lalla Essaydi's "Converging Territories #2"; Naveed Nour's "A Nation Ruled by Men"