ABU DHABI.- Christie's landmark auction MAWASIM: 20 Years of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art realised USD$8,940,800, marking a significant moment in the company's long-relationship with the region and the twentieth anniversary of its first auction in the UAE. Held at The Abu Dhabi EDITION on 1 November, the evening sale was the first fine-art auction in Abu Dhabi, bringing together a selection of works by artists from across the Middle East and North Africa. The highest total achieved for a Christie's Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art Evening Sale in more than ten years, more than 30% of registrants were Millennial and Gen Z, and 37% of registrants were new to Christie's.
Anthea Peers, President, Christie's EMEA, commented: “What an exceptional week. Two decades on from our first auction in the UAE, it's thrilling to have held the first fine art auction in Abu Dhabi. We welcomed so many collectors together with those passionate about art and artists from the wider region to our view, programming and events. The response to MAWASIM has been hugely rewarding. It is a wonderful milestone in Christie's history in the UAE, and we look forward to all that comes next.”
Following a landmark exhibition and programming throughout the week leading up to the sale, Sunday evening's auction saw spirited bidding reflecting the excitement we see throughout Abu Dhabi, one of the world's most dynamic cultural destinations. In addition to marking the 20th anniversary of the first Christie's fine art auction held in the UAE, this sale highlights Christie's long term commitment to the evolution of the Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art category and the continued growth of artists from the region internationally. The auction brought together important works from distinguished collections, including the Dalloul Collection in Beirut and Barjeel Art Foundation in Sharjah, whose commitment to collecting, preserving and promoting modern and contemporary Arab art has helped shape the region's art-historical narrative.
Dr Ridha Moumni, Chairman, Middle East and Africa, Christie's and Marie-Claire Thijsen, Head of Sale and Specialist, Christie's UK and UAE jointly remarked, “Tonight's results highlight the compelling selection of modern and contemporary art from the Middle East and North Africa offered in MAWASIM, reflecting the diversity of artistic languages, geographies and generations that have emerged across the region. We were delighted to see that more than 30% of registrants were Millennial and Gen Z, and in addition 37% were new to Christie's this evening. The breadth of bidding across the sale demonstrates the international interest this category has achieved today. Its scale reflects the depth of the region's art sector and its capacity to support a major sale of this kind.”
Sale highlights include:
• Nine auction records achieved, including records for Jellal Ben Abdallah, Paul Guiragossian, Faisel Laibi Sahi, Juliana Seraphim, Nabil Kanso, Samia Halaby, Rami Farook, Fatma Lootah and Afra Al Dhaheri, with records for the medium for Guiragossian and Halaby and auction debuts for Kanso, Farook, Lootah and Afra Al Dhaheri.
• Following almost seven minutes of competitive bidding, Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian's Variations on the Hexagon, 2006, led the sale, realising USD$844,800 against an estimate of USD$150,000–250,000.
• Paul Guiragossian's Noces (Wedding), 1958-1959 realised USD$486,400, marking a notable connection to Christie's inaugural UAE auction in 2006 where several important works by Guiragossian were offered.
Top Prices
• Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian, Variations on the Hexagon, 2006 USD$844,800
• Fahrelnissa Zeid, Composition, 1948-1949 USD$524,800
• Faisel Laibi Sahi, Baghdad Caf (The Coffee Shop), 2016 USD$512,000
• Ali Banisadr, Homo Deus, 2018 USD$512,000
• Paul Guiragossian, Noces (Wedding), 1958–1959 USD$486,400
• Mahmoud Sad, Portrait de Princesse Fadia (Portrait of Princess Fadia), 1952 USD$486,400
• Fahrelnissa Zeid, Endless Thoughts, 1970s USD$486,400
• Samia Halaby, Yesterday, 1978 USD$358,400
• Ayman Baalbaki, Babel Tower, 2012 USD$281,600
• Farhad Moshiri, Untitled, 2003 USD$230,400
