Get set for a Middle Eastern summer at Sotheby's New Bond Street.
Having wowed us with the month-long Freddie Mercury exhibition last summer, Sotheby's is set to transform its galleries once again. This time, it brings the colours and flavours of the Middle East right to the heart of Bond Street.
Running between 12th - 30th August, Hafla takes its name from the Arabic word for “celebration” and sees the revered auction house explore a variety of cultural themes including art, fashion and jewellery from across the Middle East. From the early Islamic period to the contemporary, this unique takeover will include an exciting programme of talks, panel discussions, screenings and gallery tours. Even the Sotheby’s Café gets a Middle Eastern makeover, to celebrate the region's rich café culture. As a result, expect plenty of sweet mint tea and other delicious picks on the menu.
Of the show's inception, Edward Gibbs, Sotheby’s chairman of the Middle East & India, says: ‘As much of the traditional art market takes its summer break, the streets of Bond Street are enlivened with people from all over the world visiting London.'
“We wanted to take this moment to give our galleries a Middle Eastern makeover”
Highlights include over 50 artworks spanning 50 years of modern visual art in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, curated in collaboration with Qaswra Hafez, the founder of the Hafez Gallery in Jeddah. Comprising paintings, sculptures and installations, the exhibition will start with the early phases of modern art in the Kingdom by introducing the pioneers of the 1960s and 1970s, to the current day.
Also coming under the spotlight is a curated selection of 27 calligraphic works from a private London collection. But perhaps most mesmerising of all are the exceptional jewellery creations, which explore the inspiration of the Eastern world on jewellery design in collaboration with A2Z Advisory. Founded by Abdulrahman Al Zayani in 2018, the art advisory service supports clients in the Gulf and across the world on building and curating their jewellery and art collections. Rare coloured gemstones and diamonds as well as iconic pieces from a clutch of leading Bond Street jewellers including Cartier, Bulgari and Van Cleef & Arpels are all to be discovered here.
Other stunning items of note include an exclusive capsule collection of five Saudi Arabia-inspired bags designed by HRH Princess Nourah Al Faisal in collaboration with another storied Bond Street name, Asprey.
Commenting on these contemporary collections, Sophie Stevens, Sotheby’s Dubai-based jewellery specialist says: ‘The showstopping jewels presented by A2Z will not only be dazzling for their beauty and design but will also reflect the influence of the East on the world of jewellery design. Through the collaboration with HRH Princess Nourah Al Faisal’s handbag line with Asprey, we’re also seeing a perfect blend of Saudi and British heritage.’
The Hafla exhibition runs until 30 August; Sotheby's, 34-35 New Bond Street, W1A 2AA