Lebanese art is esteemed, gaining in value, establishing and asserting itself. From June 7th to 11th, the Lebanese online art platform and auction house Artscoops, in collaboration with Art Consultant Janet Rady (Janet Rady Fine Art), are staging the exhibition LEBANON | UNTITLED at Cromwell Place in London. Comprising of 53 artworks, including paintings, mixed media pieces, and sculptures, this will represent one of the largest displays of Lebanese art in London. We have the opportunity to meet with the founders of Artscoops, May and Raya Mamarbachi.
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Introduce us to your platform, Artscoops.
Established in 2015, Artscoops was borne out of a driving impetus to bolster the art market within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, rendering it more accessible to global collectors. Artscoops emerged as the pioneering digital auction house dedicated specifically to MENA art. Since its inception, it has evolved into an online platform for purchasing and vending artworks from the region. We engage with a network of premier galleries and collectors to source and offer an extensive array of traditional and contemporary art. Additionally, our team of connoisseurs provides an assortment of services to aid collectors in their art purchases and sales, including consultancy, financing, and artwork shipping services.
Who is Janet Rady with whom you are associated with the London Exhibition?
Janet Rady, a London and United Arab Emirates-based art consultant, has been a staunch supporter since the genesis of Artscoops. With a deep-seated passion for the international art market, she brings to the table vast expertise amassed over more than 35 years of work in major auction houses and commercial galleries.
How did you choose the title LEBANON | UNTITLED?
The exhibition title, LEBANON | UNTITLED was selected after careful deliberation with our team. We deemed it essential to encapsulate Lebanon’s perpetual state of flux in the title.
Why did you want to exhibit in Europe?
The decision to exhibit in Europe is part of a strategic diversification and expansion effort. Our online platform, with the tenure of 8 years and over 100,000 subscribers, now seeks to extend its reach towards Europe. Furthermore, we aim to provide Lebanese artists with the opportunity to showcase their prowess in the prestigious gallery, thereby augmenting their visibility in the United Kingdom, which boasts a sizable Lebanese diaspora and a significant pool of international collectors. It is also a conduit for us to propagate “good news” from Lebanon!
In your opinion, how is Lebanese art doing? And how has it withstood the crisis?
Lebanese art is thriving. It is the Lebanese themselves who are investing in Lebanese art and bolstering the market. The Lebanese artistic and cultural community has exhibited exemplary solidarity in maintaining the vitality of the Lebanese art market. The value has held steady amidst the crisis. Notably, new collectors have emerged during this time. These individuals began investing in art at the onset of the Lebanese crisis, got swept up in the excitement and now seek to broaden and enrich their collections – a promising development for the Lebanese art market. Another testament to the health of the market is the growing scarcity of high-value artworks.
What are your next projects?
As for our future endeavors, we have several international projects in the pipeline. This maiden experience will guide our trajectory and influence the successive steps we undertake!
The article in French: https://www.agendaculturel.com/article/lart-libanais-sexpose-a-londres
