Stunning Iranian Artworks Shine at Bonhams’ Online Auction for Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art
In a remarkable showcase of creativity and talent, two exceptional works by Iranian artists were sold at the Bonhams London online auction of Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern Art on August 14. This event featured a diverse collection of 45 pieces from various artists across the Middle East, including 10 notable works from Iranian creators.
The Iranian artists whose pieces were highlighted in the auction included Sirak Melkonian, Ebrahim Olfat, Babak Kazemi, Marcos Grigorian, and YZ Kami. However, only two artworks by Melkonian and Olfat found new owners during the event.
- An untitled oil on canvas painting by the late Sirak Melkonian, executed in 2020, was sold for $13,888.
- The second sold piece, titled “Eshgh (Hafez Poem)” by Ebrahim Olfat, is a calligraphy painting crafted with ink and gold leaf on canvas in 2012, which realized $5,207.
Sirak Melkonian, an influential Iranian-Armenian painter and a pivotal figure in the modern art movement in Iran, passed away last August in Toronto, Canada, at the age of 93. Born in Tehran, Melkonian’s artistic journey began when he met Marcos Grigorian after completing high school, where he was introduced to modern European art.
Melkonian’s early works exhibited a figurative and realistic approach, leading to significant recognition. In 1957, he was awarded the Contemporary Iranian Artists Award at the Iran-America Society, followed by the Imperial Court Prize at the Tehran Biennial in 1958. Encouraged by Grigorian, Melkonian moved to Italy to study at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma, though he eventually opted for an experimental approach to learning.
His career flourished with participation in prestigious events such as the Venice Biennale and the Paris Biennale, where he garnered several accolades. By the early 1960s, Melkonian shifted his focus towards abstraction, establishing himself as a leading figure in the Iranian art scene due to his successes both domestically and internationally.
In the early 1970s, Melkonian, along with other prominent artists, founded the Azad Art Group. This collective was formally introduced at the Tehran International Art Fair in 1974, where they challenged and expanded the boundaries of conceptual art and installation works in Iran.
Melkonian’s artistic style is characterized by limited color palettes and a strong emphasis on line and form, where the subject matter takes a backseat. The evolution of his works reflects a journey from figurative language to expressionism and eventually abstraction. His mastery of visual elements, particularly line and color, creates a harmonious balance that resonates with the beauty of nature.
Over his prolific career, Melkonian exhibited his works in more than 140 exhibitions worldwide, spanning cities like Tehran, Paris, New York, and Yerevan. His artworks are part of major public and private collections, including the Niavaran Palace, TMoCA, and LACMA.
Ebrahim Olfat, the other featured artist, is renowned for his expertise in calligraphy. He holds a Master’s degree in Graphic Design from Azad University and is a graduate of the Iranian Calligraphers Association, along with possessing a medical degree from Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran.
Olfat has mastered over 20 different calligraphic scripts, including Nastaʿlīq, Shekasteh Nastaʿlīq, Thuluth, Naskh, Kufic, Ruqʿah, and Diwani, showcasing a diverse array of calligraphic compositions. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions and international auctions, gaining recognition for his innovative approach.
His most notable works include unique lightboxes that blend modern calligraphy with illumination. These pieces have been featured at prestigious international auctions, including Sotheby’s London and Christie’s in Paris and Dubai.
The modern and contemporary Middle Eastern art market has seen significant growth in recent years as recognition of this category has expanded among collectors both regionally and globally. The evolution of Twentieth-century Arab and Iranian Art reflects the region’s rich artistic legacy and the world’s enduring fascination with Middle Eastern art and culture.
Bonhams has been a significant player in this market since its inception. During its inaugural sale of modern Middle Eastern art in Dubai in 2008, Bonhams set a record by breaking 33 world records and witnessed the first Middle Eastern artwork, Iranian artist Farhad Moshiri’s mixed media work “Eshgh”, sell for over one million dollars.
Since that landmark event, Bonhams has established itself as a leading auction house in the sector, hosting regular bi-annual sales first in Dubai and now in London, in recognition of the growing international interest in art from the Middle East and surrounding regions.
In conclusion, the recent auction at Bonhams not only highlights the incredible talent of Iranian artists but also underscores the vibrant growth of the Middle Eastern art market. As interest continues to rise, the contributions of artists like Sirak Melkonian and Ebrahim Olfat will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping the future of art in the region.
