By Yasmin Darwish

Sotheby’s in collaboration with Athr Gallery, Ayyam Gallery, Al Madad Foundation, Dar Al Hekma College, and Edge Of Arabia have all come together to create the first ever Jeddah Art Week.

The week kicked off with Sotheby’s exhibition at the Park Hyatt Furusiya. This event marked Sotheby’s first ever exhibition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Art enthusiasts, gallerists, artists, socialites, and the media filled the exhibition space admiring the famous international artworks that surrounded them. The most breath-taking work in the exhibition was Chanet Avedissian’s Icons of the Nile. The work is 78- panel installation mosaic depicting Egyptian culture.

In the next room of the Park Hyatt was the “Mostly Visible” sponsored by Athr Gallery and curated by Ashraf Fayadh. The vibrant exhibition included works by 26 Saudi artists, all who stood proudly by their work, interacting with the viewers.

Athr Gallery hosted the second evening of Jeddah Art Week. The gallery hosted a public talk with award-winning filmmaker, Ahd Kamel, who recently participated in the Berlin International Film Festival. After the talk was the opening reception of “Pen To Paper” a group exhibition in collaboration with Al Madad Foundation. The exhibition included artworks loaned by Middle Eastern collectors and galleries, featuring some brilliant examples of international art from across the region’s top collectors.

The exhibition was followed by an auction conducted by Sotheby’s, proceeds raised from the auction will fund Al Madad Foundation’s education and literacy program for disadvantaged children in the Arab community.

Schedule of Events:
Mostly Visible
-25th February,2013
Group Exhibition curated by Ashraf Fayadh in collaboration with Athr Gallery.

Sotheby’s Exhibition of Contemporary Art in Jeddah
25th February, 2013
First Sotheby’s exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

A Talk With Saudi Filmmaker Ahd Kamel
26th February, 2013
A talk with Ahd Kamel on her recent participation with Sanctity at the Berlin International Film at Athr Gallery.

Pen To Paper Exhibition
26th February, 2013
Group Exhibition featuring Moataz Nasr, Giovanni Ozzola, Ziad Antar, UBIK amongst other.In collabortaion with Al Madad Foundation, in support of education and literacy programs in Lebanon at Athr Gallery.

Edge of Arabia Artist Mentorship Programme
26th February – 27th February, 2013
Stephen Stapleton and Abdulnasser Gharem will host one-to-one mentoring sessions for young Saudi artists.

Ayyam Gallery Jeddah: Opening
27th February, 2013
Featuring Mohannad Orabi’s solo exhibition ‘Profile Portraits’ atAyyam Gallery.