Sotheby’s enters Indian market
More than a year after Christie’s decided to end its annual sales of fine art in India, rival Sotheby’s is entering the market as it seeks to tap the increasing affluence in the world’s fastest-growing major economy. Sotheby’s first Indian auction will be held in Mumbai in December with one of modern master Tyeb Mehta’s most important works Durga Mahisasur Mardini. Mehta’s work – a painting commissioned directly from the artist in 1993 – is expected to exceed his previous auction record of US$3.6 million (Dh13.2m), according to Sotheby’s. Well-to-do Indians, traditionally known to hoard gold and buy real estate, are expanding into financial areas such as stocks and bonds, with art sales also picking up of late. The number of billionaires in India grew 15 per cent last year, making them the largest group after the US and China, according to Forbes. There’s “an increasingly vibrant domestic Indian art market”, said Jan Prasens, Sotheby’s managing director for Europe, Middle East, Russia and India. He said given the projected economic growth for India, it was the right time for Sotheby’s to bring the auctions directly to the doorstep of the collectors.
The most ‘challenged’ books of last year
Before allegations of sexual harassment, Jay Asher and Sherman Alexie were facing criticisms of a different kind. Asher’s Thirteen
Reasons Why and Alexie’s The Absolutely True
Diary of a Part-Time Indian top the American Library Association’s list of “challenged” books from 2017, those most objected to by parents and other community members. The list includes Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird and one of last year’s top-selling young adult novels, Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give.
Complaints about books range from the theme of suicide in Thirteen Reasons Why to profanity in Alexie’s book. James LaRue, who runs the library association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, said that future challenges could well be based on the authors themselves. Last year, Bill Cosby’s Little Bill Books were on the ALA list because of accusations of sexual assault against the actor-comedian. “I personally believe the book is distinct from the author,” LaRue said. “But when a librarian faces that kind of challenge, my advice is to treat it like any other kind of challenge. You look at the nature of the challenge, consider the context and make the decision based on the needs of the local community.” Over the past few months, several writers have had book deals and other projects cancelled or have been kicked out of organisations. Asher was dropped by his literary agent and expelled from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Alexie ended up turning down one of the library association’s highest honours, the Carnegie Medal, awarded for his memoir You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me.
The prize was announced in early February, just before allegations surfaced that he had harassed numerous women.
Sharjah Heritage Days kicks off
Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has officially launched the 16th Sharjah Heritage Days. The event, being organised by the Sharjah Institute for Heritage, has the theme “With Heritage, We Rise” and will run until April 18 – which just happens to be Unesco’s World Heritage Day. The event runs from 4pm to 10pm daily, and is held in the Heart of Sharjah cultural centre, which is made up of preserved and restored buildings. Visitors will get a glimpse of the traditions of Sharjah and UAE at the event, from dates to national dress and architecture to wildlife.