Issue 8-1

In this issue we introduce the Canvas Advisory Board – a group of select individuals who share a fundamental common denominator: an unequivocal passion for the arts and their promotion. On a similar note, our special feature presents The Curators of Middle Eastern Art, Part I with six movers and shakers in the field. Lebanese art patrons Antoine and Janine Maamari share their passion for Orientalist, Modern and Contemporary art as well as textiles and fabrics and in our museum section we visit the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford to delve into an impressive collection of ancient Egyptian art. We also review the Rolex Mentor & Protégé Arts Initiative, Cai Guo-Qiang’s Saraab exhibition and Art Basel Miami Beach. The Swiss AB Gallery is now specialised in the promotion of art from the Middle East and our profiles discuss works by Taysir Batniji, Ayman Yossri Daydban, Moataz Nasr and Shirana Shahbazi.