ColourEast. Itineraries in Middle Eastern Contemporary A…

Lot 1 - Ali Al Jabiri (Iraq, 1948 - Roma 2018)Senza Titolo, 1990 Olio su tela 70 x 50 cm - Ali Al Jabiri was born in Amara (Iraq) in 1948. He studied Fine Arts in Baghdad before moving to Italy in 1970 where he continued his formation in sculpture and decorative arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome. Along his career he exhibited his works in many shows both in Iraq and abroad and his fame increased thanks to his participation in the Iraqi pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1988 and 1990. In the meantime, the artist also planned and created a series of large monuments that can still be seen today in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.The painting in the exhibition clearly shows the interest of the artist for the ancient history of Iraq and the neighbouring region. The women portrayed in the canvas have the roundness of the faces, the large almond eyes and the garments’ colourful details, typical of the Sumerian and Babylonian tradition. Provenance: Family of the artist.

Estim. 800 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 2 - Ali Al Jabiri (Iraq, 1948 - Roma 2018)Senza titolo Fusione in bronzo a cera persaH. 57 x 45 cm - Ali Al Jabiri was born in Amara (Iraq) in 1948. He studied Fine Arts in Baghdad before moving to Italy in 1970 where he continued his formation in sculpture and decorative arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome. Along his career he exhibited his works in many shows both in Iraq and abroad and his fame increased thanks to his participation in the Iraqi pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1988 and 1990. In the meantime, the artist also planned and created a series of large monuments that can still be seen today in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.Sculpture depicting two heads. Signed. Provenance: Family of the artist.

Estim. 2 500 - 3 500 EUR

Lot 3 - Ali Al Jabiri (Iraq, 1948 - Roma 2018)Senza Titolo Fusione in bronzo a cera persaH. 42 x 40 cm - Ali Al Jabiri was born in Amara (Iraq) in 1948. He studied Fine Arts in Baghdad before moving to Italy in 1970 where he continued his formation in sculpture and decorative arts at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome. Along his career he exhibited his works in many shows both in Iraq and abroad and his fame increased thanks to his participation in the Iraqi pavilion of the Venice Biennale in 1976, 1988 and 1990. In the meantime, the artist also planned and created a series of large monuments that can still be seen today in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.In this sculpture the artists depicts a deconstructed sphere, possibly influenced by the artists belonging to the European avantgardes, who deconstructed the forms to recreate new, more meaningful ones. Provenance: Family of the artist.

Estim. 2 500 - 3 500 EUR

Lot 4 - Farhad Orouji (Iran, 1981)Khayyam, Tulipano 1, dalla serie ‘Un viaggio interiore’, 2020. Collage e vetro resina su gesso.62 x 62 x 58 cm - Farhad Orouji is an Iranian artist, curator and tutor. He has been living in Italy since 2005. Khayyam Tulipano 1, Orouji has found inspira on in the literary world of Omar Khayyam (1048-1131), a Persian polymath and poet, born in Nishapur, at that me the capital of the Seljuk Empire. Orouji has produced a three-dimensional object using plaster, covered with berglass and a collage of verses from Khayyam’s quatrains. For the shape of the object, the ar st was inspired by the arabesque. He produced several versions, exactly iden cal, and assembled them to create a three-dimensional object. He has succeeded in giving a three-dimensional form to a decora ve element, typical of Islamic art, which has only one dimension. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 5 - Farhad Orouji (Iran, 1981)Rosso, dalla serie ‘Viaggio libero nella meditazione partendo dal riciclo geometrico’, 2020 Acrilico e collage su tela 150 x 150 cm - Farhad Orouji is an Iranian artist, curator and tutor. He has been living in Italy since 2005.In Rosso, the artist explores a different type of journey, the one linked to the transience of things and the recycling of materials that become unusable in a short me. This artwork, along with the others from the same series, recalls very much the type of the decora on belonging to the Islamic tradition. A source of inspira on could be the articulated and perfectly symmetrical geometric patterns that decorate the domes of important religious buildings not only in Iran but in the en re Muslim world. In the artwork, however, the resulting spaces in the complex patterns are not filled with vegetal and geometric motifs, but with a collage of supermarket brochures, making Rosso an example of the encounter between tradition and modernity and the representation of one of the several aspects of the so-called pop culture. Signed and dated at the back.Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 4 000 - 6 000 EUR

Lot 6 - Medhat Shafik (Egitto, 1956)La ReginaTerracotta dipinta a mano18 cm - Medhat Shafik is an Egyptian artist. He was born in El Badari in 1956 and since 1976 he has been living and working in Italy.His unique style earned him the Golden Lion for Nations at the 1995 Venice Biennale, in which he starred together with two other Egyptian artists. He was also awarded the Nile Grand Prix at the 2003 IX International Biennale in Cairo and the first prize at the Cairo Biennale in 2012 along with other important accolades. Shafik has also been mentioned in a major essay entitled ‘Modern Egyptian Art’ by Salwa Mikdadi, which is included in the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In his practice, the artist experiments with a large number of techniques and materials, preferring natural ones, such as pieces of wood and twigs, and those discarded by the contemporary consumer society. Shafik’s works are featured in some notables collections, among which: Santa Maria della Scala in Siena and Museo Riso in Palermo, the latter having acquired one of his artwork currently on display at the airport of Palermo. “La Regina” is made using hand-coloured terracotta and shows another important aspect in Shafik’s visual world, the one related to his Egyptian and by extension Middle Eastern origins. Signed.

Estim. 400 - 600 EUR

Lot 7 - Medhat Shafik (Egitto, 1956)AlberoBronzo8.5 cm - Medhat Shafik is an Egyptian artist. He was born in El Badari in 1956 and since 1976 he has been living and working in Italy.His unique style earned him the Golden Lion for Nations at the 1995 Venice Biennale, in which he starred together with two other Egyptian artists. He was also awarded the Nile Grand Prix at the 2003 IX International Biennale in Cairo and the first prize at the Cairo Biennale in 2012 along with other important accolades. Shafik has also been mentioned in a major essay entitled ‘Modern Egyptian Art’ by Salwa Mikdadi, which is included in the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In his practice, the artist experiments with a large number of techniques and materials, preferring natural ones, such as pieces of wood and twigs, and those discarded by the contemporary consumer society. Shafik’s works are featured in some notables collections, among which: Santa Maria della Scala in Siena and Museo Riso in Palermo, the latter having acquired one of his artwork currently on display at the airport of Palermo. This small sculpture is highly symbolic and could have several meanings, such as the representation of both human and natural wisdom, accumulated through the various historical stratifications of society and geological eras, respectively. At the same time, it could represent the human being with his feet, represented by the roots, firmly planted in the earth and in history, and with the mind, indicated by the luxuriant foliage, in search of answers to questions to which a certain and definitive answer has not yet been given. Signed.

Estim. 300 - 400 EUR

Lot 8 - Giulio Caponi (Brescia, 1960) Sale il soleMoquette ricamata300 x 100 cm - Fascinated from a young age by the idea of travelling and the art and culture of the Orient, he studied Arabic and Persian while in the meantime he developed an interest for writing and poetry. Some of his “talking carpets” have been included in important events such as those held at Tappeti Contemporanei in Milan, Pitti Living in Florence, Galerie En Attendant les Barbares in Parigi, Aspectos in Barcellona, and Art to use in Francoforte, just to name a few. He has collaborated with famous architects and fashion designers: Moschino and Romeo Gigli, among the others. At the same time, well-known international design magazines in Italy and abroad, such as Elle Décor, Casa Vogue, AD and Halı have dedicated some articles to him celebrating the originality and innovation of his designer carpets.‘The sun rises, the salt of life’. Few yellow leaves are scattered on the ground, and only one blue flower is added. The carpet shows a perfect blend of experimental and innovative design combined with a sort of nostalgia for the ancient techniques of weaving and the fascination for the written word. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 3 000 - 5 000 EUR

Lot 9 - Luigi Ballarin (Venezia, 1959)Tappeto, 2022Acrilico su tela 270 x 150 cm - Luigi Ballarin is a multifaceted artist fascinated by the so-called Orient. In 1993 he participated in his first exhibition, which was followed by many others in galleries and art festivals around Italy. The big change in his practice, and also in his personal life, took place in 1996, when he visited Saudi Arabia.Today he divides his time between Venice, Rome and Istanbul, three cities that are a source of inspiration for his work. Ballarin is a Mediterranean artist, who shows in his works a full awareness of the Western technical tradition steeped in Middle Eastern themes. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 5 000 - 7 000 EUR

Lot 10 - Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi (Iran, Tehran, 1979)Alef, 2022Foglia d'oro applicata su tappeto persiano, Khelardasht, 105 x 166 cm - Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi is a multidisciplinary artist. Today he lives between Milan and Antwerp. In a series of online interviews, Mohammadi has explained his artistic vision and the main elements of his practice. An essential role is played by colours and, above all, by the light, which is considered as important as a spiritual element. In his work he also pours his interest in philosophy, poetry, Sufism, human history and Oriental traditions.By juxtaposing oriental carpets with recycled material found in a western city, the artist creates a sort of union, a dialogue between two very different worlds, which perhaps in the end are not even so different, since the human beings with their strengths and weaknesses are always at the centre of all aspects of life. On ‘Alef’, Mohammadi has applied gold foils in the shape of letters of the Persian alphabet, which mutate into abstract forms. He recalls the ancient Japanese technique of kintsugi, the practice of fixing broken objects by using melted gold and by doing so, making the resulting vessel even more precious. The idea of using golden letters/abstract forms on the carpets suggests the possibility of finding a middle point between past and present and tradition and modernity. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 7 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 11 - Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi (Iran, Tehran, 1979)Ma, 2024 Mixed media, acrilico su tela, ricamo Balochi70 x 80 cm - Mahmoud Saleh Mohammadi is a multidisciplinary artist. Today he lives between Milan and Antwerp. In a series of online interviews, Mohammadi has explained his artistic vision and the main elements of his practice. An essential role is played by colours and, above all, by the light, which is considered as important as a spiritual element. In his work he also pours his interest in philosophy, poetry, Sufism, human history and Oriental traditions.By juxtaposing oriental carpets with recycled material found in a western city, the artist creates a sort of union, a dialogue between two very different worlds, which perhaps in the end are not even so different, since the human beings with their strengths and weaknesses are always at the centre of all aspects of life. In ‘Ma’ the Balochi needlework with mirror embroidery become the focus on the canvas. The perfection of the motif and the symmetry is emphasized by the plain background. The word ‘Ma’ can be interpreted through two different traditions, respectively the Buddhist and Japanese ones. In both cases, the word can be translated as interval, space, pause or void, but a void full of meanings. In this work, the artist intends to represent a non-space in a timeless moment. The eternity of a work of art is considered as a consequence of the reflection, thought, mental and spiritual journey undertaken by the artist to reach not only creation, but also life. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 3 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 12 - Behnam Kamrani (Iran, 1968)Senza titolo, dalla serie ‘Ascension’ Mixed media su carta70 x 89.5 cm - Behnam Kamrani is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, designer, curator, art critic and academic.He displayed his work in fourteen solo shows and in more than three hundred group exhibitions in Iran and around the world. He also co-curated the Shanghai Biennial and organised a number of exhibitions on the work of famous modern and contemporary Iranian artists in important galleries in Tehran.‘My visual world is affected by both Eastern and Western visual culture and I have used both wherever necessary. My earliest works were so much inspired by Iranian painting tradition.’ In this artwork, the artist depicts Buraq, the magical, composite creature that led the Prophet Muhammad on his mystical journeys from Mecca to Jerusalem and up heaven and back, and known as Isra' and Mi'raj, respectively. In this case, however, Muhammad was not portrayed, there is only Buraq ascending from the earth, represented by a series of polygonal shapes, to the sky, indicated by touches of blue paint that emphasizes the celestial vault, which is also enriched by a pair of stylized wings. In this phase of his production, the artist focused on elements coming from the Islamic cultural and religious tradition, attributing to his works a kind of spiritual aura. At the same time, however, his aim was to expand his artistic horizons and create his own visual vocabulary. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 500 EUR

Lot 13 - Behnam Kamrani (Iran, 1968)Senza titolo dalla serie ‘Ascension’ Mixed media su carta 70 x 50 cm - Behnam Kamrani is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, designer, curator, art critic and academic.He displayed his work in fourteen solo shows and in more than three hundred group exhibitions in Iran and around the world. He also co-curated the Shanghai Biennial and organised a number of exhibitions on the work of famous modern and contemporary Iranian artists in important galleries in Tehran.‘My visual world is affected by both Eastern and Western visual culture and I have used both wherever necessary. My earliest works were so much inspired by Iranian painting tradition.’ In this artwork the artist explores the dichotomy between good and evil, between light and darkness. In the centre is a tree that divides the canvas into two parts. It rises from the earth and its branches reach the sky, represented by a thin line of light blue colour. The tree is a highly symbolic representation of the tree of life and is flanked, on the left by an angel, and on the right by a jinn, a supernatural entity, which in most cases has an evil character, only on some occasions, also shows a benevolent and protective side. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 300 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 14 - Behnam Kamrani (Iran, 1968)Senza Titolo dalla serie ‘Ascension’ Mixed media su carta 70 x 49.5 cm - Behnam Kamrani is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, designer, curator, art critic and academic.He displayed his work in fourteen solo shows and in more than three hundred group exhibitions in Iran and around the world. He also co-curated the Shanghai Biennial and organised a number of exhibitions on the work of famous modern and contemporary Iranian artists in important galleries in Tehran.‘My visual world is affected by both Eastern and Western visual culture and I have used both wherever necessary. My earliest works were so much inspired by Iranian painting tradition.’ In this artwork, the focus is on a beautiful kaftan, which occupies the centre of the composition. The artist has chosen for this work a palette of warm colours, colours that in some ways are a reference to mother earth and the natural environment. The only bright spots are represented by what look like fragments of deep blue lustre pottery, which have been preserved underground and which emerge during the excavation campaigns conducted by archaeologists. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 300 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 15 - Behnam Kamrani (Iran, 1968)Senza Titolo dalla serie ‘Ascension’ Mixed media su carta 89.5 x 70 cm - Behnam Kamrani is an Iranian multidisciplinary artist, designer, curator, art critic and academic.He displayed his work in fourteen solo shows and in more than three hundred group exhibitions in Iran and around the world. He also co-curated the Shanghai Biennial and organised a number of exhibitions on the work of famous modern and contemporary Iranian artists in important galleries in Tehran.‘My visual world is affected by both Eastern and Western visual culture and I have used both wherever necessary. My earliest works were so much inspired by Iranian painting tradition.’ An angel is also the protagonist of this artwork. The celestial creature is portrayed faceless, sitting with crossed legs. Touches of colours emphasize the body. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 500 EUR

Lot 16 - Mohammad al Atiq (Qatar, 1966) “Strisciare”, 2003 Olio su tela70 x 50 cm - Mohammad al Atiq is one of Qatar's most prominent artists and graphic designers. Born in 1966, he showed an inclination for drawing and painting from an early age. In 2002, he represented Qatar at the Venice Biennale. He also received the ‘Best International Symposium’ award from the Bassamat Association in Morocco and, thanks to this, Atiq was also awarded the title ‘Ambassador of Peace and Culture’ by the Peace and Culture Bridges Organisation in California.Al Atiq's contribution has been significant for Qatari art, in fact one of his works ‘Acacia-Tree Seed’ is part of the public art installations of the Qatar Museums.Signed and dated lower left and on the back. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 800 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 17 - Farhad Gavzan (Iran, 1974)Senza Titolo, 2022Gessetto su carta69.5 x 99 cm - Farhad Gavzan is a draughtsman, painter, curator and art teacher, born in Babol in 1974. From a very young age, he showed a strong interest in visual arts and drawing. He has held several solo exhibitions both in Iran and abroad, published three books with a collection of his drawings and is tireless in curating exhibitions of emerging Iranian artists and giving lectures on various aspects of drawing in art. Artworks by Farhad Gavzan are housed in several notable collections such as: the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art; the DD Museum Izdeshar; the Pejman Foundation and the Karaki Foundation.In his works we find highly abstract representations of human figures and organic matter. In this work sky and earth in the background are not recognisable, there is no clear division between them. The long brush strokes and uniform colour palette give the viewer a sense of oppression, bewilderment and loss of self. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 18 - Farhad Gavzan (Iran, 1974)Senza Titolo, 2022Gessetto su carta50 x 70 cm - Farhad Gavzan is a draughtsman, painter, curator and art teacher, born in Babol in 1974. From a very young age, he showed a strong interest in visual arts and drawing. He has held several solo exhibitions both in Iran and abroad, published three books with a collection of his drawings and is tireless in curating exhibitions of emerging Iranian artists and giving lectures on various aspects of drawing in art. Artworks by Farhad Gavzan are housed in several notable collections such as: the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art; the DD Museum Izdeshar; the Pejman Foundation and the Karaki Foundation.In his works we find highly abstract representations of human figures and organic matter. In this artwork the artist focuses on pure abstract forms. The long central brushstroke is surrounded by a series of layered shapes that emerge with greater force from the background deliberately left bare by the artist, creating a sort of play of solids and voids, of light and dark. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 19 - Fereydoon Mambeygi (Iran, 1940-2017)Senza Titolo, 1991Mixed media su tela 97 x 120 cm - Mambeygi was an active exponent of the so-called Hurufiyya Movement, an important aesthetic movement that developed in the second half of the 20th century. The artists who were part of the movement that uses Arabic or Persian letters in their works, but with a modern twist. In his practice, Mambeygi expanded his interest in calligraphy, including in his work also letters and writing coming from the East Asian tradition, more specifically the one from Japan. Mambeygi is mentioned in H. Keshmirshekan, An Introduction to Contemporary Iranian Art (Persian ed.), Saqi Books, 2013, pp. 308-309.In this painting, the letters are arranged in such a way as to generate abstract shapes, emphasized by black and white with touches of vivid colours and the succession of solids and voids. An influence of American Abstract Expressionism can also be recognized in his works.Signed and dated lower left. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 500 EUR

Lot 20 - Saeed Kouros (Iran, Tehran, 1942)Coppia di calligrafie, 2008Olio su tela50 x 50 cm l’una - In 2010, he held a solo exhibition at Gallery 10 in Tehran, while in 2017 he participated in a group show organised by Abbas Gharib (an artist also featured in this catalogue) in Saló, Italy. Between 2007 and 2009, Kouros combined abstract forms with elements that undoubtedly suggest the heritage and tradition of Iran and the Middle East more generally, such as the use of calligraphy. Indeed, words and individual letters become the main subjects of the canvases. Skira recently published his monograph edited by Hamid Keshmirshekan, ‘Saeed Kouros, Picturing Life’ 2020.These two paintings only at first glance show a dynamic and tumultuous representation of lines, geometric shapes and drips of colour, scattered on the canvas in an endless vortex. In reality, some of these elements are letters inserted in a monochrome context of blacks and grays, enhanced by the whiteness of the canvas. Kouros did not intend to report verses from poetry or passages from literature, but he wished to create a sort of new alphabet that would express his inner turmoil and search for a state of peace. Signed and dated lower and at the back. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 800 - 1 200 EUR

Lot 21 - Saeed Kouros (Iran, Tehran, 1942)Coppia di calligrafie, 2015Olio su tela74 X 54 cm l’una - In 2010, he held a solo exhibition at Gallery 10 in Tehran, while in 2017 he participated in a group show organised by Abbas Gharib (an artist also featured in this catalogue) in Saló, Italy. Between 2007 and 2009, Kouros combined abstract forms with elements that undoubtedly suggest the heritage and tradition of Iran and the Middle East more generally, such as the use of calligraphy. Indeed, words and individual letters become the main subjects of the canvases. Skira recently published his monograph edited by Hamid Keshmirshekan, ‘Saeed Kouros, Picturing Life’ 2020.In this group of works from 2015, the artist abandons the franticness of his early subjects and makes them more introspective. The brushstrokes are richer and especially more elongated, allowing the artist to enjoy the moment of creativity for longer. He also focused on fewer subjects on the canvas, giving them more emphasis and showing a different approach, a kind of more meditative and intimate dialogue between the inner self and its artistic manifestations. Signed and dated. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 22 - Saeed Kouros (Iran, Tehran, 1942)Coppia di calligrafie, 2015Olio su tela74 X 48 cm l’una - In 2010, he held a solo exhibition at Gallery 10 in Tehran, while in 2017 he participated in a group show organised by Abbas Gharib (an artist also featured in this catalogue) in Saló, Italy. Between 2007 and 2009, Kouros combined abstract forms with elements that undoubtedly suggest the heritage and tradition of Iran and the Middle East more generally, such as the use of calligraphy. Indeed, words and individual letters become the main subjects of the canvases. Skira recently published his monograph edited by Hamid Keshmirshekan, ‘Saeed Kouros, Picturing Life’ 2020.In this group of works from 2015, the artist abandons the franticness of his early subjects and makes them more introspective. The brushstrokes are richer and especially more elongated, allowing the artist to enjoy the moment of creativity for longer. He also focused on fewer subjects on the canvas, giving them more emphasis and showing a different approach, a kind of more meditative and intimate dialogue between the inner self and its artistic manifestations.Signed and dated. Provenance: the owner had it directly from the artist.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 23 - Abbas Kiarostami (Iran, Tehran 1940 - Parigi 2016)Senza titolo dalla serie ‘Snow White’, 1978-2003Fotografia71 x 109 cm - Abbas Kiarostami has become internationally known thanks to his fruitful career as a filmmaker, but in reality he has been an all-round intellectual. Throughout his brilliant career, he has made deeply introspective films through which he has brought to light and analysed the contradictions of Iranian society and the need for Iran to take a new path. In an interview in 2003, Kiarostami spoke of how images had seduced him since his youth and how photography had always occupied a special place in his professional and personal life. The artist loved to spend time alone in the most remote and uninhabited places. His only companions were nature and his camera. In this work, Kiarostami captures the uninhabited landscape of the Caspian Sea coast. The photographs he took during solitary walks in search of the best locations for his films were not intended to be shared with the public. He wanted to capture rare snapshots of peace, beauty and harmony and keep them for himself as reminders of special and unique moments. Only at a later stage of his life did he decide to share them with the public.Trees and plants become symbols of life and continuity and emerge from the snow, showing a strong resilience.Kiarostami's photographs are held in several prestigious museums and collections including: the Centre Pompidou and the Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA); the Victoria and Albert Museum has a similar work to ours from the series ‘Trees in Snow’ (Acc. No. E.461-2011) and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa, New York) paid tribute to the artist with a retrospective of his films and photographs entitled Abbas Kiarostami: Image Maker (2007).A photograph from the same series has recently been included in a Sotheby’s catalogue, London, Modern and Contemporary Middle East, April 2024, Lot 558. Provenance: the artwork was given to the present owner directly by the artist.

Estim. 3 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 24 - Abbas Kiarostami (Iran, Tehran 1940 - Parigi 2016)Senza titolo dalla serie ‘Snow White’, 1978-2003Fotografia71 x 109 cm - Abbas Kiarostami has become internationally known thanks to his fruitful career as a filmmaker, but in reality he has been an all-round intellectual. Throughout his brilliant career, he has made deeply introspective films through which he has brought to light and analysed the contradictions of Iranian society and the need for Iran to take a new path. In an interview in 2003, Kiarostami spoke of how images had seduced him since his youth and how photography had always occupied a special place in his professional and personal life. The artist loved to spend time alone in the most remote and uninhabited places. His only companions were nature and his camera. In this work, Kiarostami captures the uninhabited landscape of the Caspian Sea coast. The photographs he took during solitary walks in search of the best locations for his films were not intended to be shared with the public. He wanted to capture rare snapshots of peace, beauty and harmony and keep them for himself as reminders of special and unique moments. Only at a later stage of his life did he decide to share them with the public.Trees and plants become symbols of life and continuity and emerge from the snow, showing a strong resilience.Kiarostami's photographs are held in several prestigious museums and collections including: the Centre Pompidou and the Los Angeles County Museum (LACMA); the Victoria and Albert Museum has a similar work to ours from the series ‘Trees in Snow’ (Acc. No. E.461-2011) and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMa, New York) paid tribute to the artist with a retrospective of his films and photographs entitled Abbas Kiarostami: Image Maker (2007).A photograph from the same series has recently been included in a Sotheby’s catalogue, London, Modern and Contemporary Middle East, April 2024, Lot 558. Provenance: the artwork was given to the present owner directly by the artist.

Estim. 3 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 25 - Abbas Gharib (Iran, 1942)Coppia di paesaggi innevati dalla serie ‘The roads’, 2019 fotografia28 x 41 cm - Abbas Gharib is an Italian artist, architect and designer with Iranian origins. In the pair of black and white photographs, Gharib portrays a snowy mountain landscape, offering to the viewers not only the natural beauty of the scenes, but also the stillness of the moment. The muffled whiteness of the snow contrasts with the dark spots of the trees, while the greyness of the streets enhances the perfection of the lines and curves. Signed and dated at the back. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 300 - 400 EUR

Lot 26 - Abbas Gharib (Iran, 1942)Coppia di paesaggi innevati dalla serie ‘The roads’, 2019 Fotografia20 x 29.5 cm - Abbas Gharib is an Italian artist, architect and designer with Iranian origins. In the pair of black and white photographs, Gharib portrays a snowy mountain landscape, offering to the viewers not only the natural beauty of the scenes, but also the stillness of the moment. The muffled whiteness of the snow contrasts with the dark spots of the trees, while the greyness of the streets enhances the perfection of the lines and curves. Signed and dated at the back. Provenance: Directly from the artist.

Estim. 300 - 400 EUR

Lot 27 - Abbas Gharib (Iran, 1942) Calligrafia, 2003Olio su tela100.5 x 150 cm - Abbas Gharib is an Italian artist, architect and designer with Iranian origins. In the painting entitled ‘Calligrafia’, the artist once again highlights lines and curves by making them stand out against a dark green background. Given the title of the painting, the lines and curves should not be interpreted only as the definition of a limited space, but as letters of the alphabet, which the artist has made abstract. Gharib found inspiration in the Persian-Arabic tradition, which uses single letters and religious and non-religious verses to decorate objects and buildings, but adapts it to a contemporary context.Signed and painted at the back. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 500 EUR

Lot 28 - Antonella Leoni (Italia, 1959)The Healer Hwa Allah, 2023 Papiro 186 x 89.5 cm - Antonella Leoni is an Italian artist and a master calligrapher. She has lived in several countries, where she has also exhibited her works in solo and group exhibitions. The artist currently divides her time between Egypt and Italy. Leoni led her studies in London and Milan and in 2019 she obtained the prestigious Diploma in the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornaments at the Academy Khalil Agha in Cairo, making her the first European artist to receive such an important title in the history of the academy. In 2018 she was among the guests of honour at the International Biennale of Arabic Calligraphy in Cairo, where she exhibited three of her most significant artworks, and in 2022 she was invited to display ten of them at the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial. In her practice, the artist usually starts from a large sheet of papyrus, which is then manipulated with the technique of marbling in order to create a unique pattern.In ‘The Healer Hwa Allah’, there are two Arabic words, respectively Hwa (Arabic, ‘he’), and ‘Al-shafi’ (Arabic, the healer). The two words are inserted among honeycombs and bees, which along with the rich decoration of the background form a sort of horror vacui, a typical element coming from the traditional art. Leoni chose to represent the hyperactivity of the bees in the production of honey in order to symbolise the healing gift given to humanity by the one God. Provenance: The artist.

Estim. 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 29 - Antonella Leoni (Italia, 1959)La storia del mercante Papiro 186 x 89.5 cm - Antonella Leoni is an Italian artist and a master calligrapher. She has lived in several countries, where she has also exhibited her works in solo and group exhibitions. The artist currently divides her time between Egypt and Italy. Leoni led her studies in London and Milan and in 2019 she obtained the prestigious Diploma in the Art of Arabic Calligraphy and Ornaments at the Academy Khalil Agha in Cairo, making her the first European artist to receive such an important title in the history of the academy. In 2018 she was among the guests of honour at the International Biennale of Arabic Calligraphy in Cairo, where she exhibited three of her most significant artworks, and in 2022 she was invited to display ten of them at the Sharjah Calligraphy Biennial. In her practice, the artist usually starts from a large sheet of papyrus, which is then manipulated with the technique of marbling in order to create a unique pattern.In ‘La storia del mercante’, the artist portrays a rooster, which is an integral part of one of the countless tales that make up the book entitled ‘One Thousand and One Nights’. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 30 - Reza Abedini (Iran, Tehran, 1967)Senza titolo dalla serie ‘Untimely’ Inchiostro su carta50 x 70 cm - He is a university professor, art critic and famous graphic designer, who established in 1993 the Reza Abedini Studio, an independent design consultancy and art director agency. He won several awards. In 2006 he received the Prince Claus Award in recognition of his creativity in the production of unique graphic designs and the impact of his work as a mean of communication. His name is listed in Meggs’ History of Graphic Design as one of the world’s outstanding post digital graphic designers and some authors have dedicated monographs to his work and his approach to design and calligraphy.He is considered as the father of Iranian contemporary graphic design. He lives and works between Iran, The Netherlands and Lebanon. Abedini's works are easily identifiable for their sophisticated style and the perfect balance between modernity and tradition as he often uses traditional Islamic patterns and above all Persian calligraphy with a special attention to the Safavid and Qajar period.In this series the artist uses ink on paper and applies some writing on distorted faces, emerging from the whiteness of the sheet of paper. Faces are important, but they are so blurry and blackened that they have no identity, those could be anyone's faces. What is more relevant is the presence of the writing, so complex and textured to become the centre of attention. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 31 - Reza Abedini (Iran, Tehran, 1967)Senza titolo dalla serie ‘Untimely’ Inchiostro su carta 70 x 50 cm - He is a university professor, art critic and famous graphic designer, who established in 1993 the Reza Abedini Studio, an independent design consultancy and art director agency. He won several awards. In 2006 he received the Prince Claus Award in recognition of his creativity in the production of unique graphic designs and the impact of his work as a mean of communication. His name is listed in Meggs’ History of Graphic Design as one of the world’s outstanding post digital graphic designers and some authors have dedicated monographs to his work and his approach to design and calligraphy.He is considered as the father of Iranian contemporary graphic design. He lives and works between Iran, The Netherlands and Lebanon. Abedini's works are easily identifiable for their sophisticated style and the perfect balance between modernity and tradition as he often uses traditional Islamic patterns and above all Persian calligraphy with a special attention to the Safavid and Qajar period.In this series the artist uses ink on paper and applies some writing on distorted faces, emerging from the whiteness of the sheet of paper. Faces are important, but they are so blurry and blackened that they have no identity, those could be anyone's faces. What is more relevant is the presence of the writing, so complex and textured to become the centre of attention. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 2 000 - 3 000 EUR

Lot 32 - Reza Abedini (Iran, Tehran, 1967)Senza Titolo dalla serie ‘Untimely’Inchiostro su carta50 x 26 cm - He is a university professor, art critic and famous graphic designer, who established in 1993 the Reza Abedini Studio, an independent design consultancy and art director agency. He won several awards. In 2006 he received the Prince Claus Award in recognition of his creativity in the production of unique graphic designs and the impact of his work as a mean of communication. His name is listed in Meggs’ History of Graphic Design as one of the world’s outstanding post digital graphic designers and some authors have dedicated monographs to his work and his approach to design and calligraphy.He is considered as the father of Iranian contemporary graphic design. He lives and works between Iran, The Netherlands and Lebanon. Abedini's works are easily identifiable for their sophisticated style and the perfect balance between modernity and tradition as he often uses traditional Islamic patterns and above all Persian calligraphy with a special attention to the Safavid and Qajar period.In this series the artist uses ink on paper and applies some writing on distorted faces, emerging from the whiteness of the sheet of paper. Faces are important, but they are so blurry and blackened that they have no identity, those could be anyone's faces. What is more relevant is the presence of the writing, so complex and textured to become the centre of attention.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 33 - Reza Abedini (Iran, Tehran, 1967)Senza Titolo dalla serie ‘Untimely’Inchiostro su carta30 x 18 cm - He is a university professor, art critic and famous graphic designer, who established in 1993 the Reza Abedini Studio, an independent design consultancy and art director agency. He won several awards. In 2006 he received the Prince Claus Award in recognition of his creativity in the production of unique graphic designs and the impact of his work as a mean of communication. His name is listed in Meggs’ History of Graphic Design as one of the world’s outstanding post digital graphic designers and some authors have dedicated monographs to his work and his approach to design and calligraphy.He is considered as the father of Iranian contemporary graphic design. He lives and works between Iran, The Netherlands and Lebanon. Abedini's works are easily identifiable for their sophisticated style and the perfect balance between modernity and tradition as he often uses traditional Islamic patterns and above all Persian calligraphy with a special attention to the Safavid and Qajar period.In this series the artist uses ink on paper and applies some writing on distorted faces, emerging from the whiteness of the sheet of paper. Faces are important, but they are so blurry and blackened that they have no identity, those could be anyone's faces. What is more relevant is the presence of the writing, so complex and textured to become the centre of attention. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 34 - Reza Abedini (Iran, Tehran, 1967)Senza titolo dalla serie ‘Untimely’Inchiostro su carta50 x 20 cm - He is a university professor, art critic and famous graphic designer, who established in 1993 the Reza Abedini Studio, an independent design consultancy and art director agency. He won several awards. In 2006 he received the Prince Claus Award in recognition of his creativity in the production of unique graphic designs and the impact of his work as a mean of communication. His name is listed in Meggs’ History of Graphic Design as one of the world’s outstanding post digital graphic designers and some authors have dedicated monographs to his work and his approach to design and calligraphy.He is considered as the father of Iranian contemporary graphic design. He lives and works between Iran, The Netherlands and Lebanon. Abedini's works are easily identifiable for their sophisticated style and the perfect balance between modernity and tradition as he often uses traditional Islamic patterns and above all Persian calligraphy with a special attention to the Safavid and Qajar period.In this series the artist uses ink on paper and applies some writing on distorted faces, emerging from the whiteness of the sheet of paper. Faces are important, but they are so blurry and blackened that they have no identity, those could be anyone's faces. What is more relevant is the presence of the writing, so complex and textured to become the centre of attention. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 35 - Amjed Rifaie (Iraq, Baghdad, 1985)Il tuo profumo, 2021Inchiostro su carta 100 x 70 cm - Amjed Rifaie is an Iraqi artist and master calligrapher, born in Baghdad. He moved to Italy more than ten years ago and developed his artistic practice in Rome, where he still lives. His talent and dedication have led him to hold courses and workshops in major universities, such as La Sapienza in Rome, as well as cultural centres, schools and embassies. He has also collaborated with the Etihad airline company and the Ministry of Tourism of Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Rifaie has exhibited his works in several exhibitions and events in Italy and abroad and one of his most important achievements is the decoration of the Iraqi Room at the FAO headquarters in Rome. The work on display is dedicated to the poem ‘Your Perfume’ by Nizar Qabbani (1923-98). Qabbani is one of the most important contemporary poets in the Arab world and is also the national poet of Syria. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 600 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 36 - Sadegh Tabrizi (Iran, 1938-2017)Senza TitoloOlio su tela57 x 84 cm - Sadegh Tabrizi is considered one of the pioneers of modern Iranian art. In his artistic production, Tabrizi adopted motifs and forms inspired by Iranian tradition, calligraphy, Persian miniatures, Qajar painting and murals. Religious symbols and traditional folk art were also an integral part of his practice. The artist has exhibited his works in a large number of solo and group exhibitions and part of his production is kept in the permanent collections of important museums and prestigious private collections in Iran and abroad. During his career, he also received commissions for large public works.In this painting, the artist has focused his attention on calligraphy, adding layers of inscriptions to the work. In the foreground, the largest inscription forms a kind of mashrabiyya, a wooden lattice window, which allows the woman to observe the outside without being seen. Signed lower right. Provenance: Italian private collection.

Estim. 3 000 - 5 000 EUR

Lot 37 - Shideh Tami (Iran, 1962)Senza titolo, 1374 (1995 CE) Tempera su carta99 x 68,5 cm - Tami's works have been included in many solo and group exhibitions in Iran and in France, the United States, Armenia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Fereydoun Ave, an influential figure in Iranian contemporary art, began collecting her works and organised a solo exhibition at Ave Gallery in 2007. In 2016 and 2018, further major exhibitions were dedicated to the artist at O Gallery. Between 2016 and 2017, her work was also exhibited at the British Museum in London in a group exhibition entitled ‘Iranian voices’.Tami's works are held at the Dalloul Art Foundation in Beirut and she has participated in international exhibitions including: British Museum in London (2016-2017), at the French Embassy in Tehran (1999) and at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris (2016).In her practice, Tami experiments with different materials and techniques and focuses mainly on the analysis of human beings. The artist has always been interested in investigating the physical peculiarities of people and their psychological complexity. In her works, she often depicts her own face and the naked faces and bodies of unknown people, with a special focus on those of women. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 1 200 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 38 - Shideh Tami (Iran, 1962)Senza titolo, 1374 (1995 CE) Tempera su carta99 x 68,5 cm - Tami's works have been included in many solo and group exhibitions in Iran and in France, the United States, Armenia, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Fereydoun Ave, an influential figure in Iranian contemporary art, began collecting her works and organised a solo exhibition at Ave Gallery in 2007. In 2016 and 2018, further major exhibitions were dedicated to the artist at O Gallery. Between 2016 and 2017, her work was also exhibited at the British Museum in London in a group exhibition entitled ‘Iranian voices’.Tami's works are held at the Dalloul Art Foundation in Beirut and she has participated in international exhibitions including: British Museum in London (2016-2017), at the French Embassy in Tehran (1999) and at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris (2016).In her practice, Tami experiments with different materials and techniques and focuses mainly on the analysis of human beings. The artist has always been interested in investigating the physical peculiarities of people and their psychological complexity. In her works, she often depicts her own face and the naked faces and bodies of unknown people, with a special focus on those of women. Provenance: the owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 1 200 - 1 600 EUR

Lot 39 - Mitra Soltani (Iran, 1988)Lover in the landscape, dalla serie ‘Shirin’ Mixed media su carta57 x 76 cm - She graduated in 2011 with a degree in painting from Shahed University in Tehran and in 2014 she obtained a Master's degree in graphic design from Tehran University of Art. She is particularly active in the Iranian art scene and has participated in more than thirty group exhibitions, art festivals and biennials. She is an interdisciplinary artist, experimenting with installation art, painting, photography and performing arts. She lives and works in Tehran. In her practice, she focuses on the interconnections between past and present and investigates literary and artistic manifestations in contemporary societies.The painting, entitled ‘Lover in the landscape’, belongs to the series ‘Shirin’, which featured in the tragic novel ‘Khosrow and Shirin’, written by the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209). Soltani is interested in Nizami's work and considers his vision of Sasanian society to be very progressive, far removed from the conservative and patriarchal vision of contemporary Iranian society.Provenance: The owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 700 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 40 - Mitra Soltani (Iran, 1988)Lover in the landscape, dalla serie ‘Shirin’ Mixed media su carta57 x 76 cm - She graduated in 2011 with a degree in painting from Shahed University in Tehran and in 2014 she obtained a Master's degree in graphic design from Tehran University of Art. She is particularly active in the Iranian art scene and has participated in more than thirty group exhibitions, art festivals and biennials. She is an interdisciplinary artist, experimenting with installation art, painting, photography and performing arts. She lives and works in Tehran. In her practice, she focuses on the interconnections between past and present and investigates literary and artistic manifestations in contemporary societies.The painting, entitled ‘Lover in the landscape’, belongs to the series ‘Shirin’, which featured in the tragic novel ‘Khosrow and Shirin’, written by the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209). Soltani is interested in Nizami's work and considers his vision of Sasanian society to be very progressive, far removed from the conservative and patriarchal vision of contemporary Iranian society. Provenance: The owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 700 - 1 000 EUR

Lot 41 - Mitra Soltani (Iran, 1988)Lover in the landscape, dalla serie ‘Shirin’ Mixed media su carta35 x 25 cm - She graduated in 2011 with a degree in painting from Shahed University in Tehran and in 2014 she obtained a Master's degree in graphic design from Tehran University of Art. She is particularly active in the Iranian art scene and has participated in more than thirty group exhibitions, art festivals and biennials. She is an interdisciplinary artist, experimenting with installation art, painting, photography and performing arts. She lives and works in Tehran. In her practice, she focuses on the interconnections between past and present and investigates literary and artistic manifestations in contemporary societies.The painting, entitled ‘Lover in the landscape’, belongs to the series ‘Shirin’, which featured in the tragic novel ‘Khosrow and Shirin’, written by the Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi (1141-1209). Soltani is interested in Nizami's work and considers his vision of Sasanian society to be very progressive, far removed from the conservative and patriarchal vision of contemporary Iranian society. This painting is double sided. Provenance: The owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 500 - 700 EUR

Lot 42 - Mania Akbari (Iran, Tehran, 1974)This is not Mania, 2007Fotografia100 x 167 cm - Mania Akbari is an artist, writer, curator and director of films and documentaries. In her works she mainly deals with issues related to women's rights, sexual identity, censorship and taboos in contemporary societies. She has often been considered an influential and controversial intellectual with a provocative, revolutionary and radical approach to art. In 2011, she fled Tehran and moved to London.Akbari's works have been exhibited in various museums and public collections. Her films have been shown in international museums such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris (10 + 4 in 2007) and the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. Furthermore, his video art works entitled Self, Repression, Sin, Escape, Fear and Destruction have been presented at numerous festivals and exhibited in museums such as the Tate Modern (2004 - 2007). In ‘This not Mania’ Akbari presents three versions of herself, but none of them can truly express who the artist is in her complexity and true essence. In the text in the background, although partially illegible due to the juxtaposition of images, one can read how the artist describes herself and how she interprets life and her work. Firmato e datato sul retro. Provenance: The owner had it from the artist.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 43 - Kezban Arca Batıbeki (Turchia, Istanbul, 1956)Istanbul Under my Wings, 2013Fotografia 46 X 70 cm - Kezban Arca Batıbeki is a Turkish artist, graphic designer, photographer and director of short films.Kezban Arca Batıbeki is a polyhedric artist. She mainly focuses on how women are perceived in contemporary societies with a special consideration on the situation of women in Turkey. She is also interested on themes such as politics, censorship, sexuality and eroticism, which are often analysed with a deep, witty and at times humoristic approach. In her works, she often investigates also popular culture and the concepts of kitsch and subculture. In order to do that, and being a collector herself, she seeks out and uses old family photographs and dated magazines, old-fashioned clothes and vintage furniture. In ‘Istanbul under my wig’, the woman is portrayed with a pigeon on her head as she looks at the old part of Istanbul. There is a certain temporal contrast between the evening dress worn by the mannequin and the sun-drenched Istanbul.

Estim. 4 000 - 5 000 EUR

Lot 44 - Kezban Arca Batıbeki (Turchia, Istanbul, 1956)Stairs, 2010Fotografia80 x 45 cm - Kezban Arca Batıbeki is a Turkish artist, graphic designer, photographer and director of short films.Kezban Arca Batıbeki is a polyhedric artist. She mainly focuses on how women are perceived in contemporary societies with a special consideration on the situation of women in Turkey. She is also interested on themes such as politics, censorship, sexuality and eroticism, which are often analysed with a deep, witty and at times humoristic approach. In her works, she often investigates also popular culture and the concepts of kitsch and subculture. In order to do that, and being a collector herself, she seeks out and uses old family photographs and dated magazines, old-fashioned clothes and vintage furniture. In ‘Stairs’ a woman has killed or just discovered the corpse of another woman, who is lying at the base of the staircase with a knife near her hand. The scene takes place inside a luxurious palace or hotel and leaves the viewer dumbfounded. Actively involving the viewer is one of the most important elements in Batıbeki’s artistic process.

Estim. 4 000 - 5 000 EUR

Lot 45 - David Daoud (Libano, Beirut, 1970)Chemin vers la citadelle, 2023Olio su tela80 x 80 cm - David Daoud is a Lebanese artist, draughtsman and sculptor, born in Beirut in 1970. He left Lebanon with his family in 1978 due to the civil war (1975-90) and moved to France. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious 1st Frédéric de Carfort Prize of the Fondation de France pour la Peinture. He painted the fourteen Stations of the Cross in the church of Saint-Rémi de Marines and three others in the church of Saint-Gildard, Longuesse (Ile de France). In his production the artist explores the themes of exile, migration and diaspora, having personally experienced the decision to leave Lebanon behind and the consequent organisation of a new life in a different country. He also analyses the personal and global history of human beings and contemporary societies, considered, as they are, complex organisms. His works often present a dreamlike, mysterious and magical world, which is at the same time a representation of reality.Daoud's works can be found in several collections, including: the Institute du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Museum of Prehistory in Beirut, the Town Hall of Marines, Vexin (France) and Isle-Adam (France).This painting could depict a corner of the Middle East and the human figures could be believers climbing a hill to reach a mosque or church to perform their prayers. Signed lower left. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 3 500 - 5 000 EUR

Lot 46 - David Daoud (Libano, Beirut, 1970)Songe, 2022 Olio su tela160 x 130 cm - David Daoud is a Lebanese artist, draughtsman and sculptor, born in Beirut in 1970. He left Lebanon with his family in 1978 due to the civil war (1975-90) and moved to France. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious 1st Frédéric de Carfort Prize of the Fondation de France pour la Peinture. He painted the fourteen Stations of the Cross in the church of Saint-Rémi de Marines and three others in the church of Saint-Gildard, Longuesse (Ile de France). In his production the artist explores the themes of exile, migration and diaspora, having personally experienced the decision to leave Lebanon behind and the consequent organisation of a new life in a different country. He also analyses the personal and global history of human beings and contemporary societies, considered, as they are, complex organisms. His works often present a dreamlike, mysterious and magical world, which is at the same time a representation of reality.Daoud's works can be found in several collections, including: the Institute du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Museum of Prehistory in Beirut, the Town Hall of Marines, Vexin (France) and Isle-Adam (France).In ‘Songe’ there is a woman at the centre of the composition. She is bare-breasted and barefoot, has only a piece of deep blue cloth that wraps around her waist and legs and wears golden jewels. She is sitting on the ground and holds her hands clasped in front of her face as if she were praying. It is surrounded by groups of people and animals, which are barely defined. The scene around the woman is dynamic, as suggested by the presence of people engaged in their own activities, in contrast with the stillness of the woman praying or dreaming. Signed lower left and signed and dated at the back.

Estim. 7 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 47 - David Daoud (Libano, Beirut, 1970)Empreintes, 2022Olio su tela146 x 113.5 cm - David Daoud is a Lebanese artist, draughtsman and sculptor, born in Beirut in 1970. He left Lebanon with his family in 1978 due to the civil war (1975-90) and moved to France. In 2011, he was awarded the prestigious 1st Frédéric de Carfort Prize of the Fondation de France pour la Peinture. He painted the fourteen Stations of the Cross in the church of Saint-Rémi de Marines and three others in the church of Saint-Gildard, Longuesse (Ile de France). In his production the artist explores the themes of exile, migration and diaspora, having personally experienced the decision to leave Lebanon behind and the consequent organisation of a new life in a different country. He also analyses the personal and global history of human beings and contemporary societies, considered, as they are, complex organisms. His works often present a dreamlike, mysterious and magical world, which is at the same time a representation of reality.Daoud's works can be found in several collections, including: the Institute du Monde Arabe in Paris, the Museum of Prehistory in Beirut, the Town Hall of Marines, Vexin (France) and Isle-Adam (France).This painting is a coral scene. People and animals sketched only by a few precise lines are depicted in what looks like a desert landscape. They could be merchants with their animals or shepherds, who move from one place to another in a continuous, perennial journey. Signed lower left and signed and dated at the back. Provenance: the artist.

Estim. 7 000 - 10 000 EUR

Lot 49 - Fuad Hamdi (Iraq 1962)Senza Titolo, 2010Olio su tela99 x 99 cm - In 2006, he left Iraq and has been living in Canada since 2011. In 2021, the American writer and journalist Bathsheba Monk dedicated a monograph to his life and work, entitled ‘Fuad Hamdi: 21st Century’.Fuad Hamdi is a prolific artist, who has experimented in his long career with both painting and sculpture.In his production, the recurring depiction of human beings is sometimes replaced by the representation of animals, as in the case of this work that depicts what appears to be a goat, set in a completely empty background, emphasised however by an intense pink colour. The animal is depicted lying down, probably with its legs tied, waiting to be killed or sacrificed. Although in this canvas Hamdi seems to have moved away from analysing the human condition, the goat waiting to be killed is a metaphor for the political situation in which many people in Iraq as well as in many other countries in the Middle East and around the world are forced to live.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 50 - Ehsan Shayegh (Iran, 1975)Linea terra acqua, 2023Pietra lavica e smalti - He lives and work in Verona, Italy. As a child in Khash, he used to play with clay and water. He made figurines in the shape of animals and geometric figures and placed them to dry on the windowsill. Today, as a grown-up man, he continues to use clay and water in his practice. In his artistic world, Shayegh is very much engaged with themes of ecology, climate change and global warming. Since 2012, he often uses lava stones as a symbolic representation of the primordial element of our planet. Lava stones come originally from Earth’s interior and are expelled during eruptions. In this process, the stones change shape and form, becoming a metaphor for the alterations that always take place inside human beings and societies.In ‘Linea terra acqua’, the lava stones are beautifully enriched by splashes of colourful enamel paints. Lava stone, by its very nature, is dark and has depressions of different sizes. The enamel paints used by the artist emphasize this characteristic and transform the stone into a sculpture. Signed. Provenance: artist.

Estim. 3 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 51 - Ehsan Shayegh (Iran, 1975)Punto e a capo (Noghte sare khat), 2021Pietra lavica e smalti - He lives and work in Verona, Italy. As a child in Khash, he used to play with clay and water. He made figurines in the shape of animals and geometric figures and placed them to dry on the windowsill. Today, as a grown-up man, he continues to use clay and water in his practice. In his artistic world, Shayegh is very much engaged with themes of ecology, climate change and global warming. Since 2012, he often uses lava stones as a symbolic representation of the primordial element of our planet. Lava stones come originally from Earth’s interior and are expelled during eruptions. In this process, the stones change shape and form, becoming a metaphor for the alterations that always take place inside human beings and societies.Lava stone has been used also for ‘Punto e a capo’ (Noghte sare khat), in which Shayegh reflects on the celestial bodies with their gravitational fields and the black holes, the most famous being the so-called Big Bang, from which the universe expanded.

Estim. 1 500 - 2 000 EUR

Lot 52 - Fahar al-Salih (Belgrado, 1964)Senza titolo, dalla serie ‘Mosaics’ n. 2003, 2023Acrilico, resina e spugne per il lavaggio auto66 x 80 x 5 cm - Fahar al-Salih was born in Belgrade in 1964 to an Iraqi father and Serbian mother and grew up in Kuwait before moving first to Vienna and then to Germany. He currently lives and works between Karlsruhe and Baghdad. In the mixed-media work in the ‘Mosaics’ series, al-Salih used a series of car washing sponges, the same ones he uses to mix the colours on his canvases. Starting with everyday objects, he has created a work of art whose main characteristics are the balance and harmony of colours. The same balance and harmony that can be found in the mosaics made by the first Muslim craftsmen in the Middle East, and which are a source of inspiration for al-Salih's work. By choosing to recreate the highly symbolic Islamic mosaics, the artist also values his position as an Arab artist living in Europe.

Estim. 3 000 - 4 000 EUR

Lot 53 - Fahar al-Salih (Belgrado, 1964)Untitled, from the series ‘Baghdad Blues’, n. 2083, 2024Photograph, plexiglass, brass, wood30 x 20 x 2 cm - Fahar al-Salih was born in Belgrade in 1964 to an Iraqi father and Serbian mother and grew up in Kuwait before moving first to Vienna and then to Germany. He currently lives and works between Karlsruhe and Baghdad. In the photograph of the series 'Baghdad Blues', the viewer observes the glimpse of a nocturnal Baghdad. A parked car and a religious complex sit in the background while a few green chairs, a table, and a fan attached to a pole occupy the first floor. People are not included in the photograph, but their presence is strongly felt through the religious building and everyday objects.

Estim. 1 000 - 1 500 EUR

Lot 54 - Fahar al-Salih (Belgrado, 1964)To die for you, from the series ‘Shelter’, 2015 Oil on canvas160 x 140 cm - Fahar al-Salih was born in Belgrade in 1964 to an Iraqi father and Serbian mother and grew up in Kuwait before moving first to Vienna and then to Germany. He currently lives and works between Karlsruhe and Baghdad. In 2009 he started painting different types of huts on canvas and called the series ‘Shelter’. The idea of placing the hut, or a simple building, at the centre of a series was suggested to the artist by his personal experiences. During his childhood, he had the opportunity to visit countries where the mountain landscapes were dotted with shelters, which left a strong impression on him. At the same time, the artist and his family lived in different countries, and the feeling of not having a permanent physical place that could be called home led him to feel like a nomad, a person who could find protection anywhere and in anyone. In ‘To die for you’ and the other abstract works in the series, the artist uses thick brushstrokes of colour and human presence is not admitted.

Estim. 5 500 - 7 000 EUR

Lot 55 - Fabrizio Tedeschi (Brescia, 1957)Totem Urbano, 2002Cartoncino telato 25 X 21 cm - Fabrizio Tedeschi's production shows as its subject the totem, a universal archetype that refers to all cultures. Fabrizio adds the adjective urban to his ‘totem forests’, thus sociologically adapting a symbolism more typically associated with distant cultures to the metropolitan context. The cultural transversality of this symbolism is, however, evident in this small canvas that, in its almost spiritual recollection, recalls the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca (hajj) with devotees gathered around the kaaba. Inscribed and dated on the back.

Estim. 800 - 1 000 EUR

ColourEast. Itineraries in Middle Eastern Contemporary Art.

Baias SRL - +390308375536 - Email

ColourEast. Itineraries in Middle Eastern Contemporary Art.

Baias SRL - +390308375536 - Email

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