Art and Coronavirus: Middle Eastern Galleries to View on Lockdown

MIDDLE EAST EYES
By Tim Cornwell

"Untitled" by Abdel Hadi El Gazzar (1925-1966), is part of one of the newest and largest archives and collections of Arab art, now available online (Dalloul Art Foundation)

The coronavirus pandemic has seen many of the world's finest art establishments close their doors in the name of public safety. By way of replacement, galleries and museums are now serving up virtual tours that can be enjoyed from the comfort of one's home. One of the latest to announce its temporary closure is the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, UK, with some 4,000 objects from the Islamic Middle East, including 1,500 ceramic pieces. “The Ashmolean’s doors have been open since 1683, so it was difficult to close them this week,” said director Xa Sturgis, in an email to visitors. With the art world moving online, MEE highlights some of the best collections from the region you can view without having to leave home. [More]

1. The Ramzi and Saeda Dalloul Art Foundation (Beirut)
2. Alserkal Art Week (Dubai)
3. The Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam)
4. Institut du Monde Arabe (Paris)
5. The British Museum (London)
6. Pera Museum (Istanbul)
7. Barjeel Art Foundation (Sharjah)
8. Akkasah Centre for Photography (Abu Dhabi)
9. Contemporary Art Platform (Kuwait)
10. Grey Art Gallery (New York)
11. Aga Khan Museum (Toronto)