Paris – The city of Paris has often been a source of inspiration for artists from all over the world, whilst the world has also had a large impact on Paris. A new sale at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr on Wednesday 5 July will celebrate a certain aspect of this – Paris and the Arab world. The sale Le Paris du Monde Arabe will bring together works by artists from across numerous counties in a diverse variety of mediums. Leading the sale is sculpture TOTEM, by Lebanese artists Anachar Basbous (born 1969), which has an estimate of €60,000 – 80,000.
Anachar Basbous was born in Rachana, Lebanon, in 1969 – his first name an anagram of this city. His mother, Thérèse Aouad Basbous, was a poet and novelist and his father was the sculptor Michel Basbous, one of the major Lebanese artists of the 20th century. Having studied architecture at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, he went to Paris to study at the National School of Arts and Crafts, specialising in architectural mosaic. Returning to Lebanon in 1992, he produced numerous wall decorations before devoting himself exclusively to sculpture. Having been influenced in his career by his parents, he was likely also inspired by his father’s library as well as his time in Paris, with his works perhaps particularly inspired by the likes of Giacometti and Brancusi.
Nima Sagharchi, Bonhams Group Head of Islamic, Middle Eastern and South Asian Art, commented: “The sale pays homage to the profound impact Paris had on artists from the Arab world, whose experiences in the city transformed their artistic visions. Being an artistic hub that has historically fostered cultural exchange, in this sale Paris, serves as a bridge between the East and the West, transcending borders and facilitating a shared artistic language. The sale will offer works by Shafic Abboud, Fahr El-Nissa Zeid, and Mahmoud Said, among others, who drew from this shared cultural heritage to create artworks that resonate with the vibrant spirit of both the Middle East and France.”
Other highlights of the sale include:
- Fahr El-Nissa Zeid (Turkey, 1900-1991), Etoile Filante (Falling Star). Estimate: €50,000 – 70,000.
- Assadour (Lebanon, born 1943), Untitled (Composition). Estimate: €20,000 – 30,000.
- Chaouki Choukini (Lebanon, born 1946), Oiseau (Bird). Estimate: €20,000 – 30,000.
- Nasser Al Aswadi (Yemen, born 1978), Hubb – Love – Amour 188 x 130 x 70cm. Estimate: €18,000 – 28,000.
- Zoulikha Bouabdellah (Algeria, born 1977), LOVE Bleu Blanc Rouge. Estimate: €18,000 – 28,000.
