An introduction to a previously unpublished major collection of Islamic, Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, notable for its exceptional range and breadth from earliest times to the present   The Farjam Collection of Islamic, and Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, comprising over 5,000 artworks, is well known in the Middle East and to the cognoscenti but has remained unpublished until now. This two-volume publication comprises over 800 highlights from the collection, introducing it as a major resource for scholars, students, and bibliophiles. Unusual amongst collections of Islamic art, the exceptional range and breadth of this collection includes the arts of the Islamic world from earliest times up to and including the contemporary Middle East. This unique characteristic, represented across the themes of the two volumes, provides an unusual cross-cultural experience demonstrating continuity, dialogue, and influences—from within as well as in between the cultures—throughout centuries. Organized thematically with high-quality photography throughout, the book reflects current trends in the study of Islamic and Contemporary art through essays and entries written by eminent scholars.

In the perpetual quest for the new, the exciting and the innovative, the attention of the global art community has in recent years been more and more focused on the Middle East. Exhibitions and articles have highlighted a remarkable burst of creativity in the region, as Arab countries from Syria to Algeria, Egypt to Lebanon and Palestine to Saudi Arabia have launched some of the most fascinating artists in recent years. The conceptual playfulness of Hassan Khan, the charged paintings of Jeffar Khaldi, the organic sculptures of Diana Al-Hadid, and the moving photography of Yto Barrada have dazzled audiences with their variety, innovation and thoughtfulness. Until now, however, nobody has captured the vitality of the region's art in a single book. New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century offers the most comprehensive, scholarly and in-depth survey yet of what is currently happening at the cutting-edge of art in the Arab world. It begins with five groundbreaking essays that offer the best context to date for contemporary Arab production. Between them they discuss the critical issues of diaspora, globalization, identity and audience, and also explore the origins of the current boom in the political upheavals of the late 20th century. These essays are then followed by some 90 superbly illustrated profiles of key artists, organizations and galleries. Mixing the well known (such as Mona Hatoum or Susan Hefuna) with the up and coming (for example, Steve Sabella or Mireille Astore), this section offers a vibrant perspective on the current state of Arab art.

A showcase of 500 highlights of the Farjam Collection, featuring painting, works on paper, photography, sculpture, installations, and videos   The Farjam Collection of Islamic, and Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, comprising over 5,000 artworks owned by Dr Farhad Farjam, is a major collection well known in the Middle East and to the cognoscenti, but which has remained unpublished until now. This volume examines around 500 highlights from the Farjam Collection of Modern and Contemporary art from the Arab and Iranian worlds. Showcased with high-quality photography throughout, the expansive collection encompasses a wide variety of media, including painting, works on paper, photography, sculpture, installations, and videos. It features numerous treasures from across the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, including works by modern and contemporary artists such Dia al-Azzawi, Hassan Sharif, Mohamed Melehi, Bahman Mohassess, Hussein Bicar, Kadhim Haidar, Baya Mahieddine, Ayman Baalbaki, Rashid Rana, Fahrelnissa Zeid, Farhad Moshiri, Dana Awartani, Mounir Fatmi, Shezad Dawood, Mona Saudi, Susan Hefuna, Shirin Neshat, Mahmoud Said, and Sohrab Sepehri.   Bringing together historians, critics, and curators from around the globe to reflect on these works, through essays, entries, and interviews with leading artists, this volume demonstrates how this extraordinary collection highlights important trends and histories of modern and contemporary art of the Arab world, Iran, Turkey, and beyond.

In the perpetual quest for the new, the exciting and the innovative, the attention of the global art community has in recent years been more and more focused on the Middle East. Exhibitions and articles have highlighted a remarkable burst of creativity in the region, as Arab countries from Syria to Algeria, Egypt to Lebanon and Palestine to Saudi Arabia have launched some of the most fascinating artists in recent years. The conceptual playfulness of Hassan Khan, the charged paintings of Jeffar Khaldi, the organic sculptures of Diana Al-Hadid, and the moving photography of Yto Barrada have dazzled audiences with their variety, innovation and thoughtfulness. Until now, however, nobody has captured the vitality of the region's art in a single book. New Vision: Arab Contemporary Art in the 21st Century offers the most comprehensive, scholarly and in-depth survey yet of what is currently happening at the cutting-edge of art in the Arab world. It begins with five groundbreaking essays that offer the best context to date for contemporary Arab production. Between them they discuss the critical issues of diaspora, globalization, identity and audience, and also explore the origins of the current boom in the political upheavals of the late 20th century. These essays are then followed by some 90 superbly illustrated profiles of key artists, organizations and galleries. Mixing the well known (such as Mona Hatoum or Susan Hefuna) with the up and coming (for example, Steve Sabella or Mireille Astore), this section offers a vibrant perspective on the current state of Arab art.