JEDDAH: Saudi artists put up their works for sale Tuesday at Christie's Fine Arts Auctions in Dubai. The exhibited artworks were part of the “Edge of Arabia” exhibition being supported by the ALJ Community Initiatives. Among the artworks displayed at the “Christie's Fine Arts Auctions-Middle East” are the works of Abdulnaser Gharim titled “Message/Messenger”, the ALJ Community Initiatives said. The artwork is a three-meter-high dome of wood and copper representing the Dome of the Rock Mosque in Jerusalem. The artwork price hit $842,500, which is ten times its starting price. “There was fierce competition between three collectors from three continents to possess the artwork,” said Gharim of the auction. “I think this is an obvious indication that our art language has become universal and can reach a huge category in the world.” Fadi Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, president of the ALJ Community Initiatives, expressed his pleasure for the success of Saudi artists in the international exhibition. He said that ALJ Community Initiatives will continue supporting Saudi artists through art events all over the world. Abdullah Al Turki, creative director of “Edge of Arabia” thanked Christie's for providing the international platform that showed the importance of Saudi artworks. The incomes generated by the artworks would empower “Edge of Arabia” to train a new generation of artists and art supervisors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
