Art Dubai 2010

[Евгений]

Become a bit old (2008), but interesting that to understand what Art Dubai (EA)
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Prospects of Art Dubai, John Martin says.

- John, tell me, how do great interest to contemporary art in the Arab world? What is special situation in the Middle East art market?

- I can say that about a third of participants Art Dubai come from the Middle East. Our Fair is unique, since it crossed the western and Middle Eastern art market. The latter is represented by two dozen galleries. A lot of collectors from all over the world come here to buy art. And there are local collectors - very enthusiastic and active. They promote the art of the Middle East. We have presented ten galleries from India - there from Dubai only two hours by plane. Again, Indian art collectors come here to look at Western art, and western - on the Indian. In fact, one fair you can meet representatives of different countries - and most diverse art. We do not concentrate on one region alone, we - the global fair.

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- What now will happen to the Art Dubai in a crisis? Most major international donors withdraw funds from the art projects ...

- Our Fair is held once a year, and it's really important event in the world of contemporary art. Our sponsors are dedicated, they want not just give money, but to be benefactors, patrons of the event. So we have funding remains. But, perhaps, the construction of new sites and museums in Dubai will be less.

- The press reported that the UAE authorities have set a condition that is not exhibited at the fair to work with elements of eroticism and pornography, as well as insulting the Muslim religion ... You, as a director of Art Dubai can anyone recommend galleries not to bring the work of an extreme nature?

- The authorities do not interfere in our work, and we have not had any complaints from religious circles. There is no morality police here. But the UAE - Islamic country, and it affects the fair. Working in the heart of the Muslim world, we base our strategy on trust. We carefully select the gallery, see three hundred applications - it takes several months. Censorship on Art Dubai is not, but we try to gently persuade the gallery owners do not bring something that can be understood here as pornography or defamation of religion. Of course, there are some works that can not be displayed. We rely on the fact that the curators of galleries understand this. But on the other hand, in art there are topics that are revealed over the centuries and they simply can not sidestep.

- If you see any large-scale exhibition of Russian contemporary art, it becomes clear that the Russian artists are still thinking about the past, the Soviet time. When you arrive at the Art Dubai or any other international exhibition, what, in your opinion, is the most important artists?

- I think that all artists - whether in Russia, China or the Middle East - one way or another pay his creative interest in the past, their cultural background. Evaluation of the past can be very different. In China, of course, the cultural revolution in the Middle East - acute political conflicts, primarily in Palestine and Lebanon. Artists from these countries can not transmit a sense of war that is happening there now, in our days. The same can be said about Iran and Iraq. They are often used in his works documentary footage of military action. The question is, how does the artistic language, which they use to convey their pain, understand the international community.

- You collect art?

- In general, I like the organizer is very little time to collect contemporary art. When I go to a museum, then, as a rule, bypassing the showrooms, go directly to the office administrator (laughs). I collect a little Middle Eastern art. But if I'm a collector, it is only for himself.

- Not able to say a few words about Iran? Still, this is a special country, it is very different from even its closest neighbors - the Islamic republic with a theocratic regime, moreover, in a state of cold war with the western world ... How did things was there in the field of contemporary art?

- Iranian art has deep historical roots. If we talk about contemporary art, it appeared there earlier than elsewhere in the Middle East. Many Iranian artists now living in exile - in Europe, the United States. However, today there is a very interesting trend - Iranian artists began returning to their homeland, such as Farhad Moshiri. By the way, his work is very highly regarded ...

- Still, let's go back to the crisis. After all, art - is a luxury. What, in your opinion, the financial prospects fair?

 In the past two years, prices for contemporary art market went higher and higher. This was clearly a speculative growth. And the Middle East is not unique in this sense. As we know, the world's financial exchanges have fallen to a level that was four or five years ago. However, the art market fell only to the level two years ago. So we can talk about correction - that is, those speculators who have been on the market only for the sake of profit, are gone. Generally foolish to invest in art only in order to earn more money. I believe that they care for the better - it will give way to young collectors who appreciate art. Of course, this improvement of the art market

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Dear iside, And pictures of the modern Middle-Eastern artists using Arabic calligraphy you have?