Sotheby’s is bringing the Middle East to London.
At the auction house's New Bond Street location, their London galleries will be exhibiting a diverse and curated selection of Middle Eastern art and culture.
Entitled Hafla, which translates to celebration or party in Arabic, the exhibition will run from August 12 to 30. Highlights will include paintings, jewellery and calligraphy from the Islamic world and limited-edition handbags designed by Saudi Arabia's Princess Nourah Al Faisal.
“People from all over the world congregate in London over the summer, particularly from across the Middle East,” Ashkan Baghestani, Sotheby’s director for Middle Eastern and contemporary art, tells The National.
“We felt there would be a real demand and desire from art aficionados who are in town to see Middle Eastern art under the spotlight as they wander down New Bond Street. It also gives our regular collectors an opportunity to see a different side of the Middle Eastern art scene.”
The main part of Hafla will be the section Khamseen, which is the Arabic word for 50. It highlights 50 works spanning 50 years of modern visual art from Saudi Arabia. Curated in collaboration with founder Qaswra Hafez of Hafez Gallery, it will comprise of paintings, sculptures, photography, prints and installations.
Khamseen starts with The Beginnings, which focuses on the early phases of modern art by introducing the active artistic pioneers in the kingdom between 1965 to 1980, most of whom were broadly dealing with themes of identity.
The exhibition then moves to the Awakening / Boom section, which highlights artists working between the 1980s and the late 1990s, when Saudi society became more conservative. The final section, Information Superhighway, encompasses the work of young dynamic artists experimenting with various media in the early 2000s.
“Taking a look at Khamseen, bringing some of the rarest and most important Saudi pioneers is a first,” Baghestani adds.
“With the growing appreciation of and visibility around Saudi art, it felt only natural to bring some of these gems to London and exhibit them to a very different audience.”
In addition to art, there will also be a jewellery exhibition that showcases the influence of the Middle East on design. It is in partnership with A2Z Advisory in Bahrain. Expect about 60 jewellery creations to be on display, including coloured gemstones and diamonds from maisons such as Cartier, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels. It runs until August 22.
“The Middle East is one of the world’s leading luxury hubs, and so it was only fitting that we would dedicate a section of Hafla to exploring the region’s impact in this arena,” says Sophie Stevens, Sotheby’s jewellery specialist.
“From Art Deco designs, significant diamonds and top-tier coloured gemstones, to groundbreaking contemporary jewels, there is something for every discerning jewellery collector at Hafla this summer.”
The luxury section of the exhibition will also include an exclusive capsule collection of Saudi Arabian-inspired bags by luxury brand Asprey in collaboration with Princess Nourah. Five boldly designed, limited-edition bags each pay homage to the five regions of the kingdom through motifs, colour and embroidery techniques.
Incorporating something from across the Islamic world, the final portion of Hafla will be a display of rich calligraphic works from the 8th to 21st century.
It will showcase the development of Arabic script over more than a millennium of manuscript production, from Quranic manuscripts in Kufic script to the lavish illuminations of the Qajar period. It will feature 28 calligraphic works from the Bashir Mohamed Family collection, produced across the Middle East, Turkey, India, Spain and China.
“One of the most exciting calligraphic works is a magnificent bifolium from the Blue Quran – showcasing the true scale and majesty of the legendary manuscript,” Frankie Keyworth, Sotheby’s Islamic & Indian art specialist, says.
“It is both materially opulent, written entirely in gold on large sheets of blue vellum, and visually striking, showcasing a particularly masterful Kufic script.”
The diversity of works, artists and mediums from Hafla is not only part of its appeal, but shows the range and of ideas and creativity from the Middle East across various time periods that tell an overarching story about art creation from the region.
“We wanted Hafla to feel like a journey,” Edward Gibbs, Sotheby’s chairman for the Middle East & India, says. “As you enter each gallery, you are immersed in a different moment of Middle Eastern creativity."
Hafla will take place at Sotheby’s London galleries from August 12 to 30
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
More on Quran memorisation:
More from Neighbourhood Watch
Results
5pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m; Winner: Faiza, Sandro Paiva (jockey), Ali Rashid Al Raihe (trainer).
5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m; Winner: Greeley, Connor Beasley, Helal Al Alawi.
6pm: Emirates Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Marzaga, Jim Crowley, Ana Mendez.
6.30pm: Emirates Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh100,000 1,600m; Winner: Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri.
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 1,600m; Winner: AF Ashras, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 2,200m; Winner: Somoud, Richard Mullen, Ahmed Al Mehairbi.
The%20Secret%20Kingdom%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Matt%20Drummond%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAlyla%20Browne%2C%20Alice%20Parkinson%2C%20Sam%20Everingham%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203%2F5%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
The five pillars of Islam
More on Quran memorisation:
ACL Elite (West) - fixtures
Monday, Sept 30
Al Sadd v Esteghlal (8pm)
Persepolis v Pakhtakor (8pm)
Al Wasl v Al Ahli (8pm)
Al Nassr v Al Rayyan (10pm)
Tuesday, Oct 1
Al Hilal v Al Shorta (10pm)
Al Gharafa v Al Ain (10pm)
The five pillars of Islam
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Director: Laxman Utekar
Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna
Rating: 1/5
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Zayed Sustainability Prize
LILO & STITCH
Starring: Sydney Elizebeth Agudong, Maia Kealoha, Chris Sanders
Director: Dean Fleischer Camp
Rating: 4.5/5
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
Read more about the coronavirus
match info
Union Berlin 0
Bayern Munich 1 (Lewandowski 40' pen, Pavard 80')
Man of the Match: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich)
Wonka
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%C2%A0Paul%20King%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3ETimothee%20Chalamet%2C%20Olivia%20Colman%2C%20Hugh%20Grant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
TRAINING FOR TOKYO
A typical week's training for Sebastian, who is competing at the ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon on March 8-9:
- Four swim sessions (14km)
- Three bike sessions (200km)
- Four run sessions (45km)
- Two strength and conditioning session (two hours)
- One session therapy session at DISC Dubai
- Two-three hours of stretching and self-maintenance of the body
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
For more information go to www.abudhabi.triathlon.org.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The years Ramadan fell in May
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Results
6.30pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes Group Three US$200,000 (Turf) 2,000m; Winner: Ghaiyyath, William Buick (jockey), Charlie Appleby (trainer).
7.05pm: Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Cliffs Of Capri, Tadhg O’Shea, Jamie Osborne.
7.40pm: UAE Oaks Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
8.15pm: Zabeel Mile Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,600m; Winner: Zakouski, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
8.50pm: Meydan Sprint Group Two $250,000 (T) 1,000m; Winner: Waady, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
MORE ON THE US DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES
The years Ramadan fell in May
More on Quran memorisation:
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
More on animal trafficking
More from Neighbourhood Watch
'HIJRAH%3A%20IN%20THE%20FOOTSTEPS%20OF%20THE%20PROPHET'
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEdited%20by%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Idries%20Trevathan%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20240%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Hirmer%20Publishers%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
