Bridging Continents: A New Era for Art in the Middle East
Christie's Commemorates Two Decades with Historic Abu Dhabi Auction
Christie's launched its inaugural fine art sale in Abu Dhabi, named "MAWASIM: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art," to commemorate the 20th anniversary of its initial auction in the United Arab Emirates. The evening culminated in an impressive total of $8.94 million.
Masterpieces Command Attention and Set New Records
The auction, hosted at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel, featured prominent artists from the Middle East and North Africa. Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian's "Variations on the Hexagon" (2006) emerged as the leading sale, realizing $844,800, significantly surpassing its estimated value of $150,000 to $250,000. Bidding for this particular piece, by an artist currently featured in a Stockholm retrospective, extended for a full seven minutes.
Additional Highlights and Notable Sales
Other significant artworks included Fahrelnissa Zeid’s "Composition" (1948-49), which sold for $524,800, exceeding its lower estimate of $500,000. Faisel Laibi Sahi’s "Baghdad Café (The Coffee Shop)" (2016) fetched $512,000, also surpassing its $400,000 low estimate. Ali Banisadr’s "Homo Deus" (2018) achieved $512,000, nearing its high estimate of $550,000. These figures include premium fees. Out of 68 lots offered, only eight remained unsold, resulting in an 88.2 percent sales rate.
Breaking New Ground: Nine Artists Achieve Auction Records
New auction records were established for nine artists: Jellal Ben Abdallah, Paul Guiragossian, Faisel Laibi Sahi, Juliana Seraphim, Nabil Kanso, Samia Halaby, Rami Farook, Fatma Lootah, and Afra Al Dhaheri. Guiragossian’s "Noces (Wedding)" (1958–59) sold for $486,400, almost reaching its high estimate of $500,000.
A Testament to the Region's Growing Art Market
In a joint statement, Christie’s Ridha Moumni, Chairman of Middle East and Africa, and Marie-Claire Thijsen, Head of Sale and Specialist for Christie’s UK and UAE operations, emphasized that the auction’s outcomes underscore the extensive international interest in this art category. They noted that the auction's scale reflects the profound depth of the region’s art sector and its capability to support major sales of this caliber. Christie’s also reported that over 30 percent of registered bidders were millennials and Gen Z, with 37 percent being new to Christie’s.
Preview of Upcoming Masterpieces
Prior to the Abu Dhabi sale, Christie’s showcased three major works from its forthcoming New York auctions at the Abu Dhabi Edition hotel. These included Wassily Kandinsky’s "Betonte Ecken" (1923), estimated at $60 million–$80 million; Mark Rothko’s "Untitled" (1968), with an estimate of $10 million–$15 million; and Pablo Picasso’s "Tête de femme" (1939), estimated between $12 million–$18 million.