A four-day exhibition on contemporary art opens today at the Katara Art Centre, Building 5.
BY RAYNALD C RIVERA
DOHA: Doha is now an important hub for contemporary art scene in the region, says an art expert.
“We were here last April and we made a record sale of $15m of contemporary art which is historical in the Middle East because that was the first time an auction achieved that result in the region. We are very much confident that Doha is the best platform to be promoting and engaging with contemporary art,” Lina Lazaar Jameel, Sotheby’s International Contemporary Art Specialist, told The Peninsula yesterday.
Exhibitions being held here featuring renowned contemporary artists such as the largest exhibition of iconic artist Damien Hirst which will open next week, also reaffirm Doha’s growing reputation as a center for contemporary art, she said. She was speaking at the press preview of a four-day exhibition on contemporary art which opens today at the Katara Art Centre, Building 5.
The expo features 15 artworks from Sotheby’s forthcoming Contemporary Art Evening Sale in New York next month. It has a combined estimate of $60m to $90m.
“For this exhibition — which can be regarded as a mini museum exhibition, given the superb quality of the works on view - we have brought to Doha a number of extremely rare artworks that will appeal to a broad audience and to be seen for the first time in the Gulf,” she explained.
The selection of works on view includes outstanding examples by leading American post-war artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Cy Twombly and John Chamberlain from the high-points of their careers.
“Each of the works on show not only provides a visual feast, but they are also extremely intellectually arresting. When we bring such works to Doha, part of the exhibition experience is to invite the public in to engage with the art, and it is always our pleasure to be able to share with visitors the fascinating context of these works, as well as educate about the artistic process, inspiration and representation.”
The highlight of the Contemporary Art on view is Andy Warhol’s magnificent Liz #1 (Early Colored Liz) from 1963 (est. $20-30mn). “The reason why it’s special is that it combines perfectly the whole ideology and the essence of Warhol, combining the drama and glamour of celebrity.”
Following the exhibition in Doha, the works will be offered as part of the Contemporary Art Evening Auction on November 13 in New York. Over 250 works will be auctioned for the day and evening sale.
The Peninsula
