culTure caPiTal
Exhibition of modern Middle Eastern art, curated by ChristieÕ s at Four Seasons, Doha
the best ways for Christie’s to become an integral part of the local community.” This was a time when contemporary art was going through a vibrant period. Contemporary artists in Syria, Lebanon and Iran were receiving recognition. The time was perfect for Christie’s and “it made sense to try and give a platform for Middle Eastern contemporary art globally”. “When we opened our gallery on Middle Eastern Contemporary sales, all of our 850,000 clients across the globe were able to see what it was all about. It drove huge interest and continues to do so,” he says. Which is why, Christie’s has come to Doha, with the best ME contemporary artist collection, says Pylkkanen. “The timing couldn’t have been better,” he says, “with Qatar Museum Authority about to open Mathaf, the 20th century contemporary art museum. The interest of Qatar mirrors our own in promoting the ME artist. Six years ago none of these artists were known and now we have several of them selling art between $1 million (QR3.65 million) and $2.5 million (QR9.1 million).” The quality and seriousness of these artists were being recognised, he says citing examples of two: Tanavoli, whose work was sold for over $2 million (QR7.28 million) and Mahmoud Sayed’s work which sold for $2.5 million(QR9.1 million). The artists are now well-known globally, says Pylkkanen, referring to yet another artist, Farhad Moshiri, a young Iranian artist, whose work has been sold at the UAE pavilion at the Venice Biennale, one of the best contemporary art shows in the world. Christie’s was instrumental for this sale.
Market conditions
In 1998, at Christie’s, Pylkkanen launched 104
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the Impressionist and Nineteenth Century Art Department before he was promoted to International Director for 19th & 20th Century Art. Talking about his role here, he says Impressionist and Nineteenth Century Art Departments drive the art market. “It amounts to 30% of Christie’s turnover,” he says. “Christie’s organises 500 sales a year of which only two are in the Middle East. But our ME patrons have been buying from us for 40 years. It is also vital for us to encourage our ME patrons to look at the other 498 sales that happen around the world. “Having said that, this is also the first time that we are championing art of the region and we are very proud of the opportunity. What is more important for us is to encourage ME collectors to engage in our sales in New York, London and Hong Kong. “The vital growth areas for us are China, Russia and Middle East. They represent 30% of the new buyers Christies’ deals with. Even as sales from other countries have slowed down, sales from these three regions have grown exponential year-on-year.” This, he says, is a natural phenomenon. “Every decade, we see new forces emerge in the art scenario. As Japan was a new force in the art market in the 1980s, so was ME and Russia in the 2000s. As you go from 2010 to 2020, you will see China grow as a force to be reckoned with...”
Art as a bridge
Middle East as a market is vital for Christie’s. “Christie’s opened its Dubai office in
2005. When you are in the art scenario you want to be in the hub of the activities. With the Middle East and Contemporary Art Museum (Mathaf) opening in December, we are excited about it and want to be a part of it too; this is where the hub is right now.We want to be part of this movement. We will also be involved in the educational aspect in the Museums. “It is not just about money, it is all about a passion for sharing the best”n
In Figures Christie’s Dubai auction October 2010 Realised
$
14,043,000 million (QR51,116,520 million) 2
Sale result realises times its pre-sale estimate Buyer breakdown
60% from Middle East 28% from Europe 10% Americas 2% Asia 117% increace over 2009
Qatar Today November 10
11/1/10 7:57:52 PM