In the summer of 2018, arts journalist Anna Seaman previewed Kahlil Gibran: A Guide for Our Times — a touring exhibition of work by 38 contemporary Middle Eastern artists inspired by Gibran's poetry, writing, and art. The preview was published on Artlyst ahead of the exhibition's London opening at Sotheby's Mayfair, 6–10 August 2018.
By Anna Seaman · Republished by the Kahlil Gibran Collective · September 2018
Amal Nasr — Love, 2018. Acrylic on canvas. From Kahlil Gibran: A Guide for Our Times, Sotheby's London, 2018.
The photomontage work featured in this exhibition is part of a peace-building touring exhibition featuring over 38 contemporary artists from the Middle East who have been inspired by Gibran's poetry, writing, and art. Whilst Gibran's work seems to be relevant across ages and geographies, it was particularly timely to host this exhibition in 2018 as The Prophet celebrated its 95th publishing anniversary.
Smaller versions of the exhibition, titled Kahlil Gibran: A Guide for Our Times, were held in Bahrain in March 2018 and in Cairo in April and May, before coming together — with a selection of work from new artists — for the London showing at Sotheby's Mayfair galleries from 6 to 10 August 2018. The London opening coincided with the West End premiere of Broken Wings, a new musical based on Gibran's first novella, at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
The exhibition was a CARAVAN initiative, sponsored by Barclays Bank Middle East / North Africa, and open to the public free of charge, Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. All artworks were available for sale with proceeds directed to peace-building charities.
Anna Seaman's exhibition preview was originally published on Artlyst, August 2018.
Article © Anna Seaman / Artlyst, August 2018. Republished by the Kahlil Gibran Collective with acknowledgement to the author.
