Bonhams, the international fine art auction house established in the UK since 1793, is taking the lead on growing regional and international interest in the emerging Middle East arts scene by featuring emerging Emirati and Iranian artists at its upcoming auction on Monday 24 November at the One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel, Dubai.

A private VIP preview on Thursday 20 November will be held to showcase works from modern and contemporary Emirati artists, featuring prominent local artists - Abdul Qadir Al-Rais, Mohammed Kazem, Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim and Negat Makki.

"From our experiences in emerging art markets such as Hong Kong and South Africa, we have noticed a growing trend for first time collectors to purchase contemporary art from their own indigenous regions," said Matthew Girling, Bonhams` European & Middle East Chief Executive.

"With the blossoming and development of a national psyche of arts appreciation in the UAE, it was only natural that we played a part in showcasing works from Emirati artists in our second Middle East auction.  We like to think we’re working as a bridge-builder between the traditional elites of the art world and a larger appreciative local audience."

An oil on canvas entitled "The Palm Mother" (estimated value US$100,000-150,000) from the renowned and respected Emirati artist, Abdul Kadir Al-Rais, will be a feature of Bonhams` November 24 auction in Dubai.

Al Rais is a founder member of the Emirates Fine Arts Society and known for his unique style inspired by the rich culture and tradition of the Arab region. He has been the recipient of several awards, including the prestigious "Golden Frond" at the GCC Exhibition in 1999.  

The auction will also include also works from The Flying House collective, a non-profit organisation formed in 2007 aimed at promoting contemporary Emirati artists.  Flying House artists featuring in Bonhams` upcoming auction include Hassan Sharif, Mohammed Kazem and Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim.

Two works offered by Hassan Sharif  "Two Squares" and "The Flying House" present markedly different styles and concepts. The paintings are symbolically charged with tradition and epitomise a natural harmony with the landscape, which instinctively evolves from the artist’s mind. Mohammed Kazem`s "Scratches on Acrylic" indicates his autobiographical approach to conceptual art projects.

"We are clearly committed to increasing both regional and international awareness of local artists in the modern and contemporary art genre," said Mehreen Rizvi-Kursheed, Bonhams’ Head of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern and Asian Art.

"Additionally, the profile of Iranian artists is on the rise worldwide – not least due to Farhad Moshiri’s record-breaking result at our first Middle East auction in March this year.  Iranian artists have risen to such prominence on the emerging arts scene that we’ve dedicated 50 per cent of our November auction to museum-quality Iranian works."

Bonhams` inaugural Middle East auction in March 2008 witnessed the first Middle East artist to achieve an auction sale of over US$1 million with Iranian Farhad Moshiri’s stunning Swarovski crystals and glitter on canvas "Eshgh" (Love) - a sale which also wrote Moshiri into record books as the highest achieving Iranian artist at auction.

Amongst the most notable Iranian works on offer at Bonhams` November auction is the rare work by pioneer artist Sohrab Sepehri from his "Tree" series (estimated at US$4000,000-600,000) and a large, dynamic work by Faramarz Pilaram (estimated at US$500,000-700,000)

Contemporary Iranian masters will be represented by Farhad Moshiri, Reza Derakshani, Korrosh Shishegaran and Pooran Jinchi. Paintings by Mohammed Ehsai, Reza Mafi and Marcos Grigorian will be offered alongside sculptures by Parviz Tanavoli, Jazeh Tabatabai and Bahman Dadkhah.

Five of Charles Hossein Zenderoudi`s works will also be offered at auction. Co-founder of the Saqqakhaneh movement in the 1960’s and one of Iran’s leading modernists, Zenderoudi is internationally renowned, having exhibited widely all over the world over the past 50 years.  

"Zenderoudi`s paintings explore religious folk art and calligraphy in his rhythmic and poetic compositions of letters.  His work had a significant influence on many contemporaries and subsequently on younger generations of artists," explained Rizvi- Kursheed.

Bonhams will hold its second Middle East sale for Modern and Contemporary Arab, Iranian, Indian and Pakistani Art at The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel on Monday 24 November 2008 at 7pm.

The sale will include paintings, ink and charcoal drawings, photographs, collages and art installations, demonstrating the variety and richness of modern and contemporary art in the UAE, Iran, India and Pakistan.

 A sample of Bonhams` November 2008 Auction List

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