ArtBAB a huge hit

Manama : With visitor figures climbing 25 per cent and brisk sales that touched BD 2, 29,000, Bahrain’s young and prestigious international art fair ArtBAB met with splashy success in its third edition this year. 

Held under the patronage of HRH Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, the event was inaugurated by HRH the Crown Prince & First Deputy Premier, Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa. 

“We are proud that not only were visitor figures so encouragingly high, but we also saw excellent sales,” said Fairs & Programme Director Kaneka Subberwal, “This year, ArtBAB 2018 hosted collections from 15 galleries around the world and 13 independent artists from 11 countries.”

ArtBAB brought some legendary art to Bahrain for visitors to marvel at including British artist Damien Hirst whose solid silver skull titled ‘Abacus – The Dream is Dead’ (2007) was a big draw; American artist Jim Dine, whose painting ‘Dogwood Spring’ drew many visitors posing for selfies (it cost BD 240,650); and Alan Davie’s Queen Emma priced at BD146,650. Thai artist Virut Panchabuse’s striking collage portraits attracted collectors and the complete collection costing BD 850 for each portrait, was sold by end of the show. 

In 2018, the focus of the ArtBAB initiative is to take Bahraini art to Europe and Russia. “We are serious when we say Art (of) Bahrain Across Borders,” Kaneka said, “Bahrain has a rich heritage but it is equally exciting in its interpretation of the present and future.”

Among the galleries that exhibited this year are Alon Zakaim Fine Art from the UK, Samara Art Gallery from Gujarat, India, Tsekh Art Gallery, Ukraine; Galerie Bruno Massa, USA, Italian artist collective Antonello Ghezzi and many more. 

This year’s fair also had a special Tribute Pavilion to two Bahraini Masters, Rashid Al-Oraifi and Ghassan Muhsin as well as a Pavilion featuring 38 Bahraini artists and 6 Emerging first-time artists. The Bahraini spotlight featured over 100 works of art.