Tuesday Talks at Sotheby’s London
Marques Toliver by Hassan Hajjaj
Tuesday evenings at Sotheby’s London this summer will feature three of the most outstanding Middle Eastern artists of their generation discussing their work in the context of the regional and international art scene.
On Tuesday August 5, master portraitist Hassan Hajjaj will present several aspects of his multidisciplinary practice. Employing portraiture, installation, performance, fashion, and interior design, Hajjaj’s practice engages with a number of ideas, including the role of portraiture in contemporary art and the visual vocabulary of contemporary fashion photography and pop art.
On Tuesday August 12, internationally renowned Saudi artist Ahmed Mater will take part in his first public talk in the UK to discuss the role of photography in recording the often radical processes of social realignment that come hand in hand with the modernisation of cities, in particular across Saudi Arabia.
On Tuesday August 19, Lebanese photographer and filmmaker Ziad Antar’s will talk about his practice, which tackles the very nature of representation. In what is perhaps his best-known series, Expired, the artist used out-of-date film rolls and an antiquated camera. Landscapes, cityscapes, political figures and pop stars appear as if transported into a fictional era, a past that never was.
Lina Lazaar, Sotheby’s International Contemporary Art Specialist said: “Sotheby’s is honoured that three leading lights, who together span the Middle Eastern art scene from North Africa, Levant and the Gulf, will be joining us over the course of our Tuesday Talks this summer – three evenings of accessible discussions.
“We will be exploring the creative process of internationally acclaimed Moroccan-born master portraitist Hassan Hajjaj, Saudi photographer Ahmed Mater and Lebanese photographer and filmmaker Ziad Antar, and the cities across the MENA region that their work particularly relates to – Tunis, Mecca and Beirut. We very much hope you will join us for what will no doubt be an inspiring journey.”
Open to all with no prior booking required, these complimentary talks will take place August 5, August 12 and August 19 at Sotheby’s, 34-35 New Bond Street, W1A 2AA.