Bassam Freiha Art Foundation Opens with Orientalist Exhibition

The Bassam Freiha Art Foundation (BFAF) will launch its inaugural exhibition, Echoes of the Orient, on 4 March 2024. Curated by Director of Exhibitions Michaela Watrelot, the show juxtaposes Orientalist paintings from H.E. Bassam Freiha's private collection with 19th-century photography and works by contemporary and modern Arab artists. The exhibition explores the West's romanticized portrayal of the Middle East, focusing on femininity in Orientalist art—from harem odalisques to maternal scenes. Western artists featured include Rudolphe Ernst, Léon Comerre, Paul Leroy, Jan-Baptist Huysmascuns, and Fabio Fabbi. Arab modernists include Habib Srour, Moustafa Faroukh, Cesar Gemayel, Tawfik Tarek, and early works by Emirati artist Abdul Qader Al Rais. Photographers such as Gabriel Lékégian, Jean Pascal Sébah, Tancrede Dumas, and Hippolyte Arnoux are also included. Watrelot states the juxtaposition aims to foster West-East dialogue and critical thinking about Orientalist narratives, with photographs serving as a visual bridge between fantasy and reality.