Abu Dhabi’s The National reports on ArtBasel Miami’s satellite fair, Zoom, that showcases art from the Middle East:
An important addition to Miami’s annual cultural offering, Zoom attempts to address the decided lack of Middle Eastern presence at Art Basel. While other emerging markets, particularly Latin America, have blossomed under Art Basel’s guidance, the Middle East feels under-represented. […]
The implication is that for Art Basel Miami Beach directors, Middle Eastern art is not without its issues. This sense of unease manifests itself in Zoom’s setting- a hotel located near the sprawling conference centre hub has a makeshift quality.
“There’s a huge buzz in Miami,” says the Carbon 12 director, Kourosh Nouri. […] “For us, it was about seeing Miami in action and checking out the future.”
The director of London’s Edge of Arabia gallery, Stephen Stapleton, agrees: “What’s interesting is that the American art scene is very different from that in Europe in terms of its relationship with the Middle East. It’s a lot further behind in terms of people understanding or engaging or relating to the artists. The Middle East is very fringe in the US.” […]
“A lot of American collectors are a little bit uncomfortable with the idea of art from the Middle East”, says Nouri.
Miami’s Zoom Art Fair Brings Middle East to a Wary US (The National)
