by Patrick Cox
If ‘Middle Eastern Art Forms’ was asked as a category on the game show ‘Family Fortunes’, it would be more than likely that the highest scoring word would be “literature”, with such authors, both ancient and modern, as Rumi, Ahmed Shawqi and Hafez well known in the literary world. Following closely behind would doubtless be “music”, succeeded perhaps by “calligraphy” and possibly “ceramic art” after that. One answering “modern art” would perchance score a mere few points, if any at all, and for a good reason. An outsiders view of the Middle East is skewered by news reports of oppressive regimes, crackdowns on personal expressions and sexist societies were women are seen as little more that mothers and housewives.
As a result, the “Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East” makes a bold declaration that this is in fact not the case, and a declaration that I for one whole-heartedly agree with. Yes, there is some political statements that may be a bit of a irritation for one wanting to escape from that whole issue and see the Middle East for its culture and people, but past the sprawling rubber map of Beirut and apartment building model (made by an artist who fled Lebanon during the 2006 invasion by Israel) and you will find a rare insight into how a modern Arab or Persian lives his or her life.
Not wanting to give a room-by-room description of the gallery, the works on show give an as broad view on life as a documentary on the region could: From a series of paintings on the sacrificing of a sheep at Eid al-Adha to a literal unveiling of the burkas of the surprising number of prostitutes on the streets of Tehran, complete with melon-filled bras and heeled leather boots. Other pieces of note include a room full of tin foil wearing ‘ghosts’ possibly listening the word of God, and a compilation of photos of burkas with household objects in the place of faces; a bold statement of the artists views which, for me, summarises precisely what art should be: The expression of feeling and emotion, an eye opener for those who falsely believed the modern Middle Easterner is too fearful of speaking out.
Although this may not be an epitome of some of the stunning calligraphy found in Arabia and beyond, nor of the intricate designs found on ceramics, “Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East” does exactly what it say it does: Unveiling a society that for the majority of the British population is a world of war, hatred and strife. It plays perfectly with the principle that ‘you are what you read’, showing that, like any form of art, ones perceptions of this world that we live on can be changed merely by walking into a gallery and looking around at what humble men and women from thousands of miles away have created. Granted, that for the majority of those at this amazingly cosmopolitan university of ours, the Middle East is home, the subject of studying or a strong passion, but for anyone whose minds have been locked up with mere images seen on the news; this is your opportunity to see what is really behind the political/propaganda veil that has covered up the real Middle East for too long now.
“Unveiled: New Art from the Middle East” is now on view at the Saatchi Gallery, just off Sloane Square, until the 9th of May. Admission is free.