Middle Eastern Gallery Takeover Opens at Sotheby's London
Sotheby’s is offering a taste of the Middle East on New Bond Street. Each of Sotheby’s London galleries is hosting a unique aspect of Middle Eastern culture, creating an immersive, almost month-long series of exhibitions and public events.
At the heart of this celebration, titled "Hafla," is "Khasmeen," an exhibition that features fifty works of art spanning the last fifty years of Saudi Arabia’s visual cultural scene (1965-2015). Curated in collaboration with Qaswra Hafez and Hafez Gallery, this exhibition showcases paintings, sculptures, and installations that trace the evolution of modern art in the Kingdom. The journey begins with the pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s, who not only explored the medium of painting but also established the first exhibitions and studios for future generations. The subsequent decades—1980s through the late 1990s—witnessed artists delving into new topics while building on the foundation laid by their predecessors. With the advent of the internet in the early 2000s, a fresh wave of young artists began experimenting with diverse media and looking outward to the world. Among the featured artists are Dia Aziz Dia, Mohammed Al Saleem, Abdulhalim Radwi, Adulrahman Al Soliman, Mounirah Mosly, and Dana Awartani.
Additionally, "Hafla" presents a dazzling collaboration between Sotheby’s and A2Z, a jewelry advisory firm founded by Abdulrahman Al Zayani in 2018. This showcase explores the influence of the Eastern world on jewelry design, featuring extraordinary colored gemstones, diamonds, and iconic pieces from renowned maisons such as Cartier, Bulgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels, alongside contemporary creations by leading designers.
The exhibition also includes a stunning collection of 27 calligraphic works that highlight the enduring significance of the written word in Islamic art. Spanning over a millennium, these works illustrate the development of Arabic script across the Middle East, Turkey, India, Spain, and China. From early Qur’an leaves in Kufic script to later religious and secular manuscripts, the exhibition showcases the diversity of calligraphic styles, each complemented by intricate illumination. Contemporary works demonstrate how this artistic tradition continues to thrive and evolve.
To complete the experience, Sotheby’s cafe has been transformed into a homage to Middle Eastern courtyards and coffeehouses—cultural sanctuaries where art and heritage come together.
The exhibition is on public view until August 30, 2024.
