Art

Fashion Entrepreneur Zina Khair on Three Decades of Collecting Syrian Art

Published

1 year ago

May 25, 2023

Based in Dubai, the Syrian art aficionado and fashion entrepreneur Zina Khair has amassed a formidable collection of artworks by Syria’s greatest living and late artists over the course of nearly three decades. Here, Khair discusses her collector parents’ influence; her taste for imperfect portraiture; her favorite artists; and her advice for aspiring collectors.

For Khair, collecting is a case of “love at first sight”

The French have the expression coup de foudre, which literally translates into “a bolt of lightning.” It’s also another way of saying “love at first sight,” and that is exactly how Khair describes her process of art collecting. In 1994, she bought her first artwork in her native Damascus, a small figurative painting by the Syrian master Fateh Moudaress, who passed away in 1999. “I bought it from my first salary,” she told Artsy at her art-filled apartment with a remarkable view of downtown Dubai. “I did not want to buy a purse [or] a piece of jewelry, but a painting.”

The artist whose work has influenced her the most

Khair is no stranger to art. Her parents were avid art enthusiasts; they befriended Moudaress and bought many of his symbolist canvases. “I grew up in a house filled with art. I literally opened my eyes and all I could see were our walls full of Moudaress’s work,” she recalled. “He influenced my life the most. Because of him, we fell in love with painting. It’s through him that we learned to appreciate and accept the different. In his paintings, the women’s eyes and breasts are uneven. It wasn’t about the perfect features.”

On becoming a champion of Syrian art

Khair didn’t intend to “build” an art collection, but becoming a collector happened naturally over the years. Today, her collection comprises numerous works created predominantly by Syrian modern and contemporary artists.

Displayed like a mini museum, Khair’s apartment features emotionally charged paintings by Safwan Dahoul, Louay Kayali, Omar “Malva” Hamdi, Rima Salamoun, Mohannad Orabi, Fadi Yazigi, and Marwan Kassab-Bachi, among others. Works cover the walls of her home, including in the kitchen. Intriguing sculptures of insects and iguanas by the Syrian sculptor Jamil Kasha are scattered on tables, and every piece has a story to tell: “I love them equally,” she said. “Each one has a different soul and character. . . Each one of them says something to you.”

Khair moved to Dubai in 2012 following the Syrian civil war (she left everything behind, except photo albums and her art), and has today become something of a champion for Syrian art. She didn’t feel the need to look abroad for talent. “I don’t know if it’s a patriotic thing, but I really believe in Syrian art and artists. I love what they do, regardless of what they’ve been going through. There’s still so much creativity happening.”

Khair is drawn to collecting works that show people’s imperfections

A majority of Khair’s collection is figurative work, but it’s not of the classical kind. “I’m not attracted to beautiful faces, but to real faces,” she explained. “Maybe it’s because it was a kind of rebellion against society imposing perfect beauty standards in Middle Eastern societies: you had to be beautiful. . . There’s a certain pressure on us girls growing up.”

One of the artists who created imperfect faces is Sabhan Adam, whom she had initially never heard of. Adam’s portraits of creatures or “monsters” bring out a satirical, Orwellian feel. “[Adam] told me that they’re not monsters,” explained Khair. “They’re beautiful creatures. It’s society that sets the parameters of beauty, and so you think that they are monsters.” The same goes for Marwan Kassab-Bachi, who is known for his psychological self-portraits that resemble ragged landscapes. Zhair hopes to one day purchase a larger painting by the artist.

For Khair, a genuine connection with the artwork is paramount

What excites Khair in the art world today is seeing young artists in the region being recognized by established auction houses and museums.

When it comes to purchasing artwork, Khair believes that it isn’t always about how big the name of the artist is, but rather what their work makes you feel. “I would hope for the art scene to go back to that genuine connection that anyone can make with an artwork, regardless of the investment and value it would take in the future,” she said. “Invest in what you love, because that is what you’ll be living with.”

The artworks from Artsy featured in this article were selected by Zina Khair.

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Art

A misspelled memorial to the Brontë sisters gets its dots back at last

Published

3 weeks ago

September 26, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — With a few daubs of a paintbrush, the Brontë sisters have got their dots back.

More than eight decades after it was installed, a memorial to the three 19th-century sibling novelists in London’s Westminster Abbey was amended Thursday to restore the diaereses – the two dots over the e in their surname.

The dots — which indicate that the name is pronounced “brontay” rather than “bront” — were omitted when the stone tablet commemorating Charlotte, Emily and Anne was erected in the abbey’s Poets’ Corner in October 1939, just after the outbreak of World War II.

They were restored after Brontë historian Sharon Wright, editor of the Brontë Society Gazette, raised the issue with Dean of Westminster David Hoyle. The abbey asked its stonemason to tap in the dots and its conservator to paint them.

“There’s no paper record for anyone complaining about this or mentioning this, so I just wanted to put it right, really,” Wright said. “These three Yorkshire women deserve their place here, but they also deserve to have their name spelled correctly.”

It’s believed the writers’ Irish father Patrick changed the spelling of his surname from Brunty or Prunty when he went to university in England.

Raised on the wild Yorkshire moors, all three sisters died before they were 40, leaving enduring novels including Charlotte’s “Jane Eyre,” Emily’s “Wuthering Heights” and Anne’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.”

Rebecca Yorke, director of the Brontë Society, welcomed the restoration.

“As the Brontës and their work are loved and respected all over the world, it’s entirely appropriate that their name is spelled correctly on their memorial,” she said.

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Art

Calvin Lucyshyn: Vancouver Island Art Dealer Faces Fraud Charges After Police Seize Millions in Artwork

Published

1 month ago

September 13, 2024

Harry Miller

In a case that has sent shockwaves through the Vancouver Island art community, a local art dealer has been charged with one count of fraud over $5,000. Calvin Lucyshyn, the former operator of the now-closed Winchester Galleries in Oak Bay, faces the charge after police seized hundreds of artworks, valued in the tens of millions of dollars, from various storage sites in the Greater Victoria area.

Alleged Fraud Scheme

Police allege that Lucyshyn had been taking valuable art from members of the public under the guise of appraising or consigning the pieces for sale, only to cut off all communication with the owners. This investigation began in April 2022, when police received a complaint from an individual who had provided four paintings to Lucyshyn, including three works by renowned British Columbia artist Emily Carr, and had not received any updates on their sale.

Further investigation by the Saanich Police Department revealed that this was not an isolated incident. Detectives found other alleged victims who had similar experiences with Winchester Galleries, leading police to execute search warrants at three separate storage locations across Greater Victoria.

Massive Seizure of Artworks

In what has become one of the largest art fraud investigations in recent Canadian history, authorities seized approximately 1,100 pieces of art, including more than 600 pieces from a storage site in Saanich, over 300 in Langford, and more than 100 in Oak Bay. Some of the more valuable pieces, according to police, were estimated to be worth $85,000 each.

Lucyshyn was arrested on April 21, 2022, but was later released from custody. In May 2024, a fraud charge was formally laid against him.

Artwork Returned, but Some Remain Unclaimed

In a statement released on Monday, the Saanich Police Department confirmed that 1,050 of the seized artworks have been returned to their rightful owners. However, several pieces remain unclaimed, and police continue their efforts to track down the owners of these works.

Court Proceedings Ongoing

The criminal charge against Lucyshyn has not yet been tested in court, and he has publicly stated his intention to defend himself against any pending allegations. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Impact on the Local Art Community

The news of Lucyshyn’s alleged fraud has deeply affected Vancouver Island’s art community, particularly collectors, galleries, and artists who may have been impacted by the gallery’s operations. With high-value pieces from artists like Emily Carr involved, the case underscores the vulnerabilities that can exist in art transactions.

For many art collectors, the investigation has raised concerns about the potential for fraud in the art world, particularly when it comes to dealing with private galleries and dealers. The seizure of such a vast collection of artworks has also led to questions about the management and oversight of valuable art pieces, as well as the importance of transparency and trust in the industry.

As the case continues to unfold in court, it will likely serve as a cautionary tale for collectors and galleries alike, highlighting the need for due diligence in the sale and appraisal of high-value artworks.

While much of the seized artwork has been returned, the full scale of the alleged fraud is still being unraveled. Lucyshyn’s upcoming court appearances will be closely watched, not only by the legal community but also by the wider art world, as it navigates the fallout from one of Canada’s most significant art fraud cases in recent memory.

Art collectors and individuals who believe they may have been affected by this case are encouraged to contact the Saanich Police Department to inquire about any unclaimed pieces. Additionally, the case serves as a reminder for anyone involved in high-value art transactions to work with reputable dealers and to keep thorough documentation of all transactions.

As with any investment, whether in art or other ventures, it is crucial to be cautious and informed. Art fraud can devastate personal collections and finances, but by taking steps to verify authenticity, provenance, and the reputation of dealers, collectors can help safeguard their valuable pieces.