November 08-2013
The Culture Ministry has invited Christie’s Auction House to open a branch on Kish Island now that Middle Eastern art is drawing considerable attention in the international art market.
Christie’s has held an annual auction in Dubai for about a decade.
Iran’s new Culture Minister Ali Jannati told reporters, “We have made an offer and asked Christie’s to set up a branch on Kish Island.”
Christie’s is the world’s largest art auction house. Founded in 1766, it is based in London.
An auction by Christie’s last week in Dubai included a number of Iranian artworks during its seasonal sale of modern and contemporary Arab, Iranian and Turkish art.
The six-foot-tall sculpture by Iranian Parviz Tanavoli titled “Oh Persepolis II” fetched $940,000 on first night of the auction.
Tanavoli’s “The Wall (Oh Persepolis I)” was offered in the 2008 Dubai audtion at Christie’s and hit record high price of $2.8 million.
A calligraphic-painting by Mohammad Ehsaie went last week for $400,000 and a painting by Kami Yousefi sold at $100,000.
Some 40 artworks created by 36 Iranian artists were offered in different sections of the auction held at Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel in Dubai.
Still photos by filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami were among the works that went under the hammer Tuesday and Wednesday, October 29 and 30.
Christie’s Part III Middle Eastern Art sale, which is only for online bidding, kicked off on October 24 and will run until November 11.