Last Saturday I attended an interesting panel session on Art in the Middle East. The four speakers all came with a Dubai-centered perspective and Dubai-related experience. But that in itself was interesting and thought-provoking to me. Manela Keykavoussi, head of Middle Eastern Markets at the Fine Arts Fund, gave numbers that illustrate how the Middle East has become a burgeoning art market, how the liquidity in the gulf is creating a new trend in buying and selling, and how international galleries and auction houses are taking a great interest in art from this region and in setting up shop here (i.e. in Dubai).
Bashar Alshroogi, who manages the Cuadro Fine Art Gallery in the middle of Dubai’s International Financial District, talked about art in public spaces and how that creates a sense of identity and relationship between people and their city, especially in a place where there’s a massive real estate boom and where buildings are popping up too fast for people to connect with them.
Antonia Carver, editor of Bidoun Magazine, and Yasmin Alireza from Al-Madad foundation also provided insights on art in the region, how the media deals with it, the lack of art critics and curators, and the issue of art education. A lot was said about Art Dubai, the huge annual fair that brings together some of the biggest galleries from around the world.
I left the session with a lot of questions and thoughts to ponder. That evening, I had a very interesting discussion with a friend on the issue. We were commenting on how visual art has never really been part of our culture. I mean, people in the west, even if they can’t afford to buy expensive paintings, know Picasso and Monet and Van Gogh. Is there any Arab artist who managed to become that sort of icon in painting and visual art??
My friend then started telling me about Muhanna Al-Durra, and how he is one of the most prominent Jordanian painters whose work sells very well abroad. I took a mental note to find out more about Durra and other Jordanian painters, as I realized I’d been quite ignorant in this area.
During our magazine breakdown meeting for next month, I remembered this and decided it would be interesting to do an interview with him.
I called him up and explained that we were interested in interviewing him and talking about his art career and his perspectives on art in Jordan and the region. He said to me “I don’t mind, but I must tell you, yesterday a journalist from [one of the big dailies] came to interview, and my God she was terrible! It was a total waste of my time!”
Pressure mounting… note to self, research research research… and prepare some pretty darn good questions!!
Then he said “I might be traveling soon, we can do the interview today if you want.”
Today… um… uh… yeah, sure!!
No pressure. For a second though, I felt like I was back in the library of the engineering faculty at UJ, a few hours before an exam, trying to cram a hundred pages of dreadful power electronics or Electrognetics II.
First stop was Google, and although I found some useful tidbits of information on the internet, it was all brief, and I was reminded, yet again, of the tragic lack of content in Arabic or on the Arab world in general! I was thankful for blogs like Roba’s, and this one, which helped me get some idea before heading out to Darat Al-Funoun, my second stop.
At the Dara, I was told that paintings by Durra are probably in the private collection and not on display, so I just went up to the library and started reading some of the articles I had printed out, and digging up books from the library with potentially useful information.
After Darat Al-Funoun, I headed to the National Gallery of Fine Art, and I scanned the walls very quickly and could tell that there were no paintings by Durra. That’s because once you become familiar with his work, you recognize the feeling you get from his colors and his strokes and expressions. His colors are just amazing. They’re so warm and vibrant and they talk to you… It’s just hard to explain.
On the way to the interview, I called up some of my art-savvy friends to pick their brain and ask them for tips and ideas. This actually turned out to be quite helpful. Thanks Yacoub, Roba, and Nada :)
Walking into his studio, you just feel so overwhelmed by the art that’s surrounding you. It’s such a beautiful space, with stacks of books, old photographs, and paintings coverings the walls. A Concerto by Tchaikovsky plays in the background, and this man, who will turn 70 years old in a couple of months, sits and openly talks about art and culture and beauty, with insights gained throughout an incredibly rich life experience. Durra was the first Jordanian to go study Fine Art academically in Italy. He helped set up the Fine Art Institute in Jordan, and he was the first to introduce cubism and expressionism here. He taught and mentored many Jordanian artists, and he also worked in the diplomatic corps for some time.
We talked for close to two hours, and I left feeling thirsty for more of his stories and insights. I will leave the things he said for the article I’m writing, so look out for the July issue of JO.
Final note to self: go back to Darat Al-Funoun and the National Gallery, and learn more about Jordanian art.
Bashar Alshroogi, who manages the Cuadro Fine Art Gallery in the middle of Dubai’s International Financial District, talked about art in public spaces and how that creates a sense of identity and relationship between people and their city, especially in a place where there’s a massive real estate boom and where buildings are popping up too fast for people to connect with them.
Antonia Carver, editor of Bidoun Magazine, and Yasmin Alireza from Al-Madad foundation also provided insights on art in the region, how the media deals with it, the lack of art critics and curators, and the issue of art education. A lot was said about Art Dubai, the huge annual fair that brings together some of the biggest galleries from around the world.
I left the session with a lot of questions and thoughts to ponder. That evening, I had a very interesting discussion with a friend on the issue. We were commenting on how visual art has never really been part of our culture. I mean, people in the west, even if they can’t afford to buy expensive paintings, know Picasso and Monet and Van Gogh. Is there any Arab artist who managed to become that sort of icon in painting and visual art??
My friend then started telling me about Muhanna Al-Durra, and how he is one of the most prominent Jordanian painters whose work sells very well abroad. I took a mental note to find out more about Durra and other Jordanian painters, as I realized I’d been quite ignorant in this area.
During our magazine breakdown meeting for next month, I remembered this and decided it would be interesting to do an interview with him.
I called him up and explained that we were interested in interviewing him and talking about his art career and his perspectives on art in Jordan and the region. He said to me “I don’t mind, but I must tell you, yesterday a journalist from [one of the big dailies] came to interview, and my God she was terrible! It was a total waste of my time!”
Pressure mounting… note to self, research research research… and prepare some pretty darn good questions!!
Then he said “I might be traveling soon, we can do the interview today if you want.”
Today… um… uh… yeah, sure!!
No pressure. For a second though, I felt like I was back in the library of the engineering faculty at UJ, a few hours before an exam, trying to cram a hundred pages of dreadful power electronics or Electrognetics II.
First stop was Google, and although I found some useful tidbits of information on the internet, it was all brief, and I was reminded, yet again, of the tragic lack of content in Arabic or on the Arab world in general! I was thankful for blogs like Roba’s, and this one, which helped me get some idea before heading out to Darat Al-Funoun, my second stop.
At the Dara, I was told that paintings by Durra are probably in the private collection and not on display, so I just went up to the library and started reading some of the articles I had printed out, and digging up books from the library with potentially useful information.
After Darat Al-Funoun, I headed to the National Gallery of Fine Art, and I scanned the walls very quickly and could tell that there were no paintings by Durra. That’s because once you become familiar with his work, you recognize the feeling you get from his colors and his strokes and expressions. His colors are just amazing. They’re so warm and vibrant and they talk to you… It’s just hard to explain.
On the way to the interview, I called up some of my art-savvy friends to pick their brain and ask them for tips and ideas. This actually turned out to be quite helpful. Thanks Yacoub, Roba, and Nada :)
Walking into his studio, you just feel so overwhelmed by the art that’s surrounding you. It’s such a beautiful space, with stacks of books, old photographs, and paintings coverings the walls. A Concerto by Tchaikovsky plays in the background, and this man, who will turn 70 years old in a couple of months, sits and openly talks about art and culture and beauty, with insights gained throughout an incredibly rich life experience. Durra was the first Jordanian to go study Fine Art academically in Italy. He helped set up the Fine Art Institute in Jordan, and he was the first to introduce cubism and expressionism here. He taught and mentored many Jordanian artists, and he also worked in the diplomatic corps for some time.
We talked for close to two hours, and I left feeling thirsty for more of his stories and insights. I will leave the things he said for the article I’m writing, so look out for the July issue of JO.
Final note to self: go back to Darat Al-Funoun and the National Gallery, and learn more about Jordanian art.
1 comments:
I met Muhanna Durra personally years ago. Of course he does not remember my name, but I am sure once he sees the face he will recognize it and most probably will remember some vague discussion about art at the end of which he was pleased. He has such a photographic memory that amazes you.. His art, no doubt, is unique and of a revolutionary nature that reminds you of Picasso and Van Gogh. I am proud I had the chance to meet that genius artist and chat with him for more than one hour without getting him bored!
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