Modern and Contemporary Art of the Arab World
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Event date 20 July – 23 August 2023 -
Event location London
The largest exhibition of modern and contemporary art of the Arab world in London concluded on 23 August with resounding success. Organised in a unique partnership with the Ministry of Culture and Youth, United Arab Emirates and the Barjeel Art Foundation, Christie’s welcomed thousands of visitors to our London headquarters, showcasing over 80 years of creativity, diversity and history of Arab art to a global audience.
You can continue to browse online and explore important works included in our two exhibitions, Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation and Emirati Art Reimagined: Hassan Sharif and the Contemporary Voices. If you have missed our talk inviting the founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, in conversation with our deputy chairman of the Middle Easte and North Africa, Dr Ridha Moumni, you can revisit the recording and find out more about the breadth and depth of the contemporary Arab art scene.
You can continue to browse online and explore important works included in our two exhibitions, Kawkaba: Highlights from the Barjeel Art Foundation and Emirati Art Reimagined: Hassan Sharif and the Contemporary Voices. If you have missed our talk inviting the founder of the Barjeel Art Foundation, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, in conversation with our deputy chairman of the Middle Easte and North Africa, Dr Ridha Moumni, you can revisit the recording and find out more about the breadth and depth of the contemporary Arab art scene.
About our partners
United Arab Emirates Ministry of Culture and Youth
The Ministry of Culture and Youth (MCY) works to enrich the cultural ecosystem of the United Arab Emirates by supporting the country’s cultural, art and heritage institutions. It provides a platform for artists and innovators, promotes cross-cultural dialogue, and delivers dynamic productions and experiences that represent the UAE’s rich and eclectic culture on national as well as international level. In May 2020, the Ministry of Culture and Youth launched the National Creative Relief Program to support creatives and creative industries to face the challenges caused by COVID-19. As a pivotal component of the third phase of the program, MCY purchased Emirati artists' artwork with the aim to encourage Emirati artists to continue their artistic practice and local galleries to represent Emirati artists in their roster. Currently, the MCY supports 8 galleries and 24 Emirati artists with 51 works. The works of art acquired reflect the rich cultural heritage of the UAE and are intended to be exhibited locally, regionally, and internationally at museums, institutions, embassies, and cultural venues.
Barjeel Art Foundation
The Barjeel Art Foundation is an independent, United Arab Emirates-based initiative established to manage, preserve and exhibit the personal art collection of Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi. The foundation’s guiding principle is to contribute to the intellectual development of the art scene in the Gulf region by building a prominent and publicly accessible art collection in the UAE. Part of this objective involves developing a public platform to foster critical dialogue around modern and contemporary art, with a focus on artists with Arab heritage internationally. By hosting in-house exhibitions, lending artwork to international forums, producing print as well as online publications, and fashioning interactive public programmes, the Barjeel Art Foundation strives to serve as an informative resource for modern and contemporary art locally and on the global stage.
Event sponsor
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HOMEPAGE IMAGE: Image Courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, with permission from Mohamed Ali H. Osseiran MAIN IMAGES: Image Courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation, with permission from Mohamed Ali H. Osseiran; © Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar Foundation, Image courtesy of Barjeel Art Foundation