It is an honour to be part of this initiative to present an often-unseen face of the Arab world: one of sensitivity, culture and artistic talent.

Art is a universal language that Arabs know how to speak very well. Their works show that, given the chance, artists from the Arab world have the imagination and skill to masterfully express their feelings or portray their environs, faithful witnesses of their times that endeavor to make our lives more beautiful.

The Arab world has long been a cradle for arts. But while some traditional centres of artistic creation – Egypt, Syria, Iraq -- may have retreated from the limelight, their influence spread out fast, partly due, sadly, to the events in these countries, but also to the modern-day means of disseminating information.

Nowadays, the center of gravity has shifted towards the Arabian Peninsula, where the art scene is flourishing. The last few years, starting with 2017, witnessed the opening of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, biennales in Sharjah and Saudi Arabia, and Dubai Art Week, signaling a migration of the Middle Eastern art scene towards the Gulf.

That does not mean, however, that other countries are stagnating. Galleries and museums, including in Jordan, are now well established, competitive, true Maecenas for artists seeking recognition and fame.

The international scene seems more interested now than ever in Middle Eastern art. Works of modern and contemporary Arab artists were auctioned for millions of dollars. Turkish-Jordanian Princess Fahrelnissa Zeid, who passed away in 1991, broke the record for the most expensive painting by an Arab with her piece Break of the Atom and Vegetal Life, which sold for $2.74 million in 2013. Deceased Egyptian painter Mahmoud Said’s The Whirling Dervishes and Les Chadoufs sold for $2.54 million and $2.43 million respectively.

Some of the most celebrated artists have been able to gain massive international exposure. Whether through academics or making art and participating internationally, several names were able to break through. But there is merit in all works of art, and art collectors everywhere attest to that.

From Maghreb to Mashreq, passing through the Levant, the samples here wish to be somewhat representative of the talent these regions nurture. Hope you will enjoy them.

Hasan and Ica Wahbeh