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Renewed interest in art to have a major impact on the interiors sector and the art market.
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| 25 Mar 2007 |
The Middle East, and in particular the Gulf region, is at the beginning of what can justifiably be described as an art renaissance, due to the massive programme of residential and commercial property development that is underway across the region. This has led to a whole new appreciation of art as an integral part of interior decoration, and wealthy nationals and expatriates are turning to art as a way of adding personality to their homes and offices.
The renewed interest in art has already seen Christie's stage the Middle East's first contemporary art auctions in Dubai - featuring contemporary Arab, Iranian, Indian and Western art these attracted collectors from India and the Arab world and the first two shows generated sales worth over US$21 million. Sotheby's is also active across the Middle East, and industry sources expect Dubai's fast growing art scene to be come one of the world's leading art markets.
Italian paintings presented at a recent art exhibition in Dubai
"All levels of the art market are highly active, from the very top end collectors to those seeking something special for their home or office," said Kim Willis, Exhibition Development Director of dmg world media Dubai, the organisers of Index. "Index offers them a unique choice, both in terms of style and budget."
March also saw Dubai hosting the Gulf Art Fair, the region's first major international contemporary art show, with galleries and artists from cities all over the world taking part - from as close as Beirut and as far away as Tokyo.
Dubai's strategic location - close to Africa, Iran and South Asia, combined with its multi-cultural population means the potential for companies involved in the art sector is massive. Further strengthening the renewed interest in art, Abu Dhabi has also identified it as a potentially profitable sector and is investing on a big scale, with plans to develop a US$27 billion resort including a cultural district and five iconic art centres.
Also on the way to the region is the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, which will be the largest Guggenheim museum when it opens in 2012. It will form its own contemporary art collection and show work from the US-based Guggenheim Foundation's global collections. Plans have also been announced for a museum that may become a spin-off of France's Louvre.
"The UAE art scene has been quietly evolving with depth and commitment over the last 3 decades," said Alison Collins of the Dubai based Majlis Gallery. "The Government of Sharjah is to be thanked for their early insight support and recognition of the importance that the creative process plays within the development of an emerging nation. The founding of The Emirates Fine Arts Society, The Sharjah Art Museum and The Sharjah Biennial as well as real support of working artists in the form of studio and exhibition space has been instrumental in laying the foundations for the recent explosion of interest in the area. Abu Dhabi with its Cultural Foundation and now its commitment to developing associations with the great collection houses of Europe and the USA has also done much to nurture the arts alongside commercial developments."
"Quietly, over the years, commercial galleries such as Total Arts, Green Art and The Majlis Gallery have attracted artists from all over the world to visit, exhibit and exchange ideas with locally based artists and art lovers. Recent events such as the Christies Contemporary Art Auction and the Gulf Art Fair have now focused the world's attention on the region, and this can only be good for galleries and artists alike. The most important factor being the confidence that this gives the art buying public, as it shows that what is available in the galleries of the UAE is not only of a world class standard but that a visit to a gallery is a fun, educative and relaxing experience," she added.
Index 2007, which takes place from 1-5 November at Dubai International Exhibition Centre, will again be the biggest trade show in any sector in the whole of the Gulf region, featuring more exhibitors, expanded country pavilions and the leading regional and international names from the interiors and furniture industry.
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