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Culture March 19, 2015

The Best Investment Pieces from Art Dubai

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Setareh Shahbazi

Born in 1978 in Teheran, Iran. Gypsum Gallery, Cairo Setareh Shabazi (Something Always Falls) US $3,000; AED/SAR 11,019 “She is one of the three shortlisted artists for the Abraaj Prize this year. She is a young, Middle Eastern artist who works on layers. So all you see here is layers of things that make sense together.”

Basim Magdy

Born in 1977 in Assiut, Egypt. Gypsum Gallery, Cairo Basim Magdy (Fate Brought Us to the Shores of a Lava Lake at Dawn No. 2) US $9,100; AED/SAR 33,425 “This is another artist represented by Gypsum in Cairo. The gallery is about two years old and it already has a very strong program. Basim Magdy was nominated for the Abraaj Prize last year; he works with sound, smell, touch, and feel. What I love about this new work is that when you look at it there’s a strong emphasis on the nuance and the filters; it looks almost vintage yet is very colorful. Buying art from an artist like him is a safe investment. If you buy this piece now below US $10,000, you know that it will never devalue. It’s a really good investment.”

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Ahmet Dogu Ipek

Born in 1983 in Adıyaman, Turkey. Sanatorium Art Gallery, Istanbul Ahmet Dogu Ipek (Sanatorium) US $3,000; AED/SAR 11,019 “What is interesting here is that the work is very architectural, and yet Istanbul is a city full of organized mayhem; only the people from there can find their way around. The medium is ink on paper. For this particular piece, you can see the hand of the movement and it looks like a mess but when you really look at it, there’s a set architecture to it. You can see the buildings being built at a really strong speed and you feel like you’re part of the work. What’s also interesting is that when you look at the details, the work is delicate to produce but viewed from afar, they look harsh. This contrast is fantastic. Turkish art, in general, is really hot, the fact that this piece is still affordable, and that when purchased at the fair there is no transportation fees—makes it a great investment.”

Mohamed Al Mazrouei

Born in 1962 in the United Arab Emirates. AB Gallery, Lucerne Mohamed Al Mazrouei (Untitled) US $15,000; AED/SAR 55,097 “He works a lot with the female body and other sensitive subjects. His technique is brilliant and he’s very expressive. There’s a very fine line between what you see and what you feel and the different layers in his work are interesting: he mixes mediums like paint and coal. The gallery is having him in April for a full residency of six weeks to produce some work. This is US $15,000, but it will definitely go up. In terms of Middle Eastern artists, this is typically the piece you want to go for. It’s a bit controversial, there’s a bit of sexiness in it; it’s absolutely something that I would buy for myself.”

Elisabetta Di Maggio

Born in 1964 in Milan, Italy. Laura Bulian Gallery, Milan Elisabetta Di Maggio, (Fes, 2015, Marseille Soap Hand-Cut With a Scalpel) US $9.500; AED/SAR 34,894 “This is an urban landscape of Fez on Marseille soap. It’s interesting because of the fact that Marseille is one of the most densely Arab populated cities in France, and the city’s specialty is soap. This is a very special medium, you would never imagine an artist would sculpt soap. It’s very delicate; it almost looks like lace on something that is massively used in the every day life in France. The display is also beautiful.”

Nima Zare Nahandi

Born in 1983 in Teheran, Iran. Dastan’s Basement Gallery, Teheran Nima Zare Nahandi (Untitled) US $4000; AED/SAR 14,692 “This young artist is really good; this piece is work on paper. In his art, he talks about his imaginary, bubble land. He has a really good imagination. I like the work because the technique itself is brilliant. It’s very soft and there is a dream-like sensation when you look at it. His gallerist is also young and promising. Art from Teheran is in constant bloom and is something to definitely consider.”

Mohammed Kazem

Born in 1969 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Taymour Garhne Gallery, New York Mohammed Kazem (Sound of Objects) US $3,000; AED/SAR 11,019 “This artist is in his late forties and he’s been producing since ’95 in the UAE. He is the student of Hassan Sherriff who is the pioneer of conceptual and contemporary art in the country. This is a very distinguishable piece from him because he uses the scratch technique; this is what he’s known for. The Louis Vuitton Foundation and several museums have collected his work. He’s definitely one to watch. He works with coordinates and measurements. This piece is about the vibrations objects would make if one were to touch them. He produces in Dubai and he has a studio in Al Quoz. This is a series, but you can buy them individually.”

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Are you an art novice? Have you always assumed that great art is out of budget? Does all your money go into your closet or your garage, only to leave your walls bare?

Style.com/Arabia takes you on a tour of Art Dubai with Victoria Gandit Lelandais, the manager of Art Dubai’s collectors circle and the person behind Art Salon, a by-invitation-only community for collectors, to uncover this year’s fair’s best steals. From up-and-coming talents that will triple in value in the next years, to the established artists you need to start collecting now (before it’s too late), we tell you who to shop and why.

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