Ans Azura: a new platform dedicated to central-eastern european and middle eastern art
This December Ans Azura’s Premiere auctions will bring together a rich diversity of Modern and Contemporary art works from Central – Eastern European region and the Middle East, many of which are on auction for the first time.
The platform will focus primarily on bringing new accessibility to high-end post-war and contemporary art from influential artists who define these territories with the great diversity of their art practice.
Initiated by Suzana Vasilescu, an art historian and art advisor, and Founder and Director of the contemporary art gallery, SUPRAINFINIT in Bucharest, România; and Andreea Stanculeanu, art advisor, Founder and Director of Sector 1 Contemporary Art Gallery also based in Bucharest, the new platform has been conceived out of a necessity to garner greater and much needed visibility and understanding of artists out of the established Western art circuits.
With 5 auctions and 3 curated exhibitions per year as well as a continuous feed of artworks in the private sales section, Ans Azura aims to create an online community of artists, buyers, sellers, and art lovers, by presenting a sustainable and transparent platform. Backed by an experienced international network of experts in CEE and Middle East markets, the platform will display premium artworks through online auctions, private sales, and curated exhibitions.
“As the art market enters into a new era, accelerated by the global pandemic situation, the auctions and online platforms are balancing exposure across and between regional centres. These new platforms have the power to act as tools for raising awareness and connecting Western and Eastern markets”
Showcasing the best of art production in Central-Eastern European territories, from Romania, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Poland and Hungary, amongst others and Middle Eastern art from the Arabian Peninsula, Anatolia, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iran and Iraq, Ans Azura will go live on 7 November, 2021 and will hold its first auction titled “A different perspective. The Post-War era in Central – Eastern European Art“, to be live-streamed on 2 December, 2021. The second auction “Expanding the Horizon. Modern and Contemporary Art from the Middle East and North Africa“, will take place on 9 December, 2021.
Amongst the highlights in the first CEE auction there will be works by acclaimed artists including Magdalena Abakanowicz, Ion Grigorescu, Geta Bratescu, Paul Neagu, Ivan Kozaric, IRWIN, Adrian Ghenie, Boris Demur, OHO Group, Jan Ziemski, Julie Knifer, Rafal Bujnowski, Aleksandar Srnec, Wilhelm Sasnal and Jannis Kounellis. Complementing these first sales, the following week on 9 December, Ans Azura will offer a remarkable selection of masterpieces entirely dedicated to Middle Eastern art. Highlights include works by Huguette Caland, Etel Adnan, Paul Guiragossian, Chawki Choukini, Helen Khal, Shafic Abboud, Dia Azzawi and many others.
The online auctions will culminate with a live broadcasted auction held by British auctioneer Tom Best. Designed to make the user experience smooth and friendly Ans Azura has a straightforward bidding system.
Established curators will also be invited to curate the “Curated exhibition” section where artworks will be displayed and sold during the entire length of the exhibition time.
A private sales section will present a selection of highlights accessible at any point in time.
