SELMA FERIANI, OF SELMA FERIANI GALLERY, LONDON, DISSCUSSES WHAT TO EXPECT AT ART DUBAI 2010

Pascal Hachem, Installation, 2009

“The Middle East today is at the forefront of international media attention and is struggling to find its place in the modern world.  Progress is occurring at a phenomenal rate and it has become a popular tourist destination for many as well as an economic and business hub, yet what I love about the Middle East, is that despite its increasing internationalism, it remains mysterious, with parts that are persistently closed-off to the outside world.  Thus, it can boast of a certain charm and richness that many regions in this world lack.

The artists I have chosen are Pascal Hachem, Sama Alshaibi, Lina Hakim, Raja Aissa, Rula Halawani and Dora Dhouib.  This selection is a mixture of both older and established as well as newer and emerging artists but all the works exhibited will be their newest and latest.  These works were not chosen to cater to the Art Dubai clientele, but rather were chosen for their quality and insight according to our gallery philosophy, not current trends.  This, I believe, gives them a more universal appeal and permanent value.  Many of these artists have been shown at the Art Dubai previously and therefore visitors may have the chance to observe their progress from year to year.

There has always been impressive talent in the Middle East but what was lacking was the necessary arts infrastructure to recognise and encourage such talent.  With such infrastructure currently emerging, these talents finally being discovered and appreciated and I predict endless possibilities for them in the years to come, opportunities on par and equal to any artist from the West.  I also predict that as these artists grow and gain more experience in the wider art market, they will gradually come into their own rather than create art based on the expectations of the Western market.  Having said that, there is a rise in a lot of mediocre art as well, but with an ever-growing arts infrastructure of collectors and museums, I have every hope that these with be necessarily filtered out.

I can safely say that ten years ago, an art market per se did not really exist.  The artists themselves were in evidence and have always been there but there were no infrastructure necessary for the existence an art market.  The artists would produce their work with no means via which to show it. That has changed dramatically with the rise of contemporary art museums, galleries and auction houses.  There is a new generation of art lovers and young collectors.  Some believe that this is merely a bubble that is soon to bust.  However, I see that the people’s interest has been sparked, with no hope of it waning.  Although the market has grown quite rapidly, it is still part of a normal evolution, but what remains to be developed is the necessary research, study and expertise to further reinforce the market and make it more reliable.  Furthermore, ten years ago, art was limited to say the least.  It was restricted to paint on canvas plus various crafts and had a strictly decorative purpose.  While art now is still deeply rooted in the region’s culture (as it should be), it nevertheless has become intellectually challenging, conceptual and artists are consistently coming up with new and innovative reinterpretations and representations of both old and new issues.

I think the most hardened of economists are having trouble answering questions regarding the recession - and I am certainly no economist.  However, this is not our first recession, and my personal experience has led me to believe that it will not be the last.  Any gallery that has a purely commercial purpose and is mainly focused on selling is bound to suffer as a consequence.  However, I believe that although there is a commercial aspect to it, art is inherently not commercial and has a fundamental non-profit aspect to it – art is about ideas that are meant to be shared. Consequently, I believe that there are no short cuts to be taken without compromising quality and a gallery’s integrity; one merely needs to ride the tide.  Furthermore, quality will always attract buyers and the recession can even be considered a filtering process where anything that is not up to scratch can be eliminated.

Art Dubai is unique in that it is characterised by its ‘newness’.  It is a new art fair, in an emerging region, which displays emerging galleries, showing emerging artists, selling to emerging collectors newly interested in contemporary art.  It is thus utterly stimulating with all the hopes and possibilities it represents and offers a unique exotic hip and happening atmosphere.”


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