This season’s London art setting saw Saudi art being heavily featured.
Saudi art has steadily put itself on the map over the last few years, and it added another feather to its cap this summer in London. Christie’s and Sotheby’s, two of the world’s leading fine art auction houses, chose to spotlight Saudi art in abundance, echoing the world’s love for it.
Christie’s St. James’ showroom is hosting a career retrospective of Saudi artist and physician, Ahmed Mater. Titled ‘Ahmed Mater: Chronicles’, it invites people in London and the world to recognize and admire Saudi Arabia’s unparalleled history and heritage in the realm of art. Sotheby’s, on the other hand, launched the ‘Khamseen’ exhibition, which runs until the end of August and displays over 60 art works that highlight the last half-century of Saudi art. These displays speak at length about the country’s art scene rising from the underground to what it is today.
Art is something the Saudi government has been working on elevating, recognizing the fact that it is a discipline that can stimulate a society in many ways. As part of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 initiative to diversify the country’s economy away from oil, it has incorporated various measures to make sure art is at the forefront of the country’s economic and social welfare. These efforts have been noted by the rest of the world, and they paved the way for the increased exposure in recent times.
The efforts paid off on a critical level as well. Ahmed Mater’s work, for example, has garnered critical acclaim from viewers and fans, while also drawing in many bids from both public and private collectors. This shows that traditional perceptions of art from Saudi Arabia and from the wider Middle Eastern region are fading away. Through initiatives from the likes of Christie’s and Sotheby’s, the world can indulge in what the country has to offer.
