The Beirut Art Fair 2012 (From Jul 5, 2012 to Jul 8, 2012) :: Beirut.com

Building on the success of the 2010 & 2011's editions, Beirut Art Fair in Lebanon stands out as an essential platform for the promotion of contemporary art of the ME.NA.SA countries (Middle East, North Africa, South Asia).

The participating galleries of the two last editions of the fair allowed collectors, international professionals, and amateurs to discover the artistic wealth of an emerging market, that hasn’t stopped growing over the last three years. Beirut, which is the historic crossing between the East and the West regions, remains a privileged destination for cultural lovers.

For its third edition, Beirut Art Fair (ME.NA.SA.Art) accentuates its position through a rich program of conferences & workshops, a VIP round through the city, meetings between collectors and galleries, happenings, cultural exhibitions, open spaces, off events, as well as, forty international art galleries carefully selected to offer a complete panorama on the young creation of our ME.NA.SA. regions.

The Beirut Art Fair team is delighted to welcome you in Lebanon.

Expressed by the original positioning of MENASART-Fair in 2009, the vision of ME.NA.SA Art is quickly establishing its presence. It is a reality in the minds, in the media, as well as at influential global fairs or biennials; MENASA Art is referenced, more and more.

The virtuous spiral gradually rises month after month. It is natural, at this stage of its history, that contemporary art from our territories expresses important differences and is aware of the predicaments in the market. This intense trend moves us and invokes enthusiasm; it is an affirmation and recognition. This has a profound sense because this is the way that we can see the materialization of the new reality which will leave a trace for the future.

In contemporary art, the MENASA (Middle East / North Africa / South Asia) continent has already accounted for some established values (Morocco, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia…). It affirms, recently, its words that it is no longer emerging, it is emerged. Contemporary art from our regions has had its foundations laid out for at least 10 years. Since then, it has continued to grow, mixing its voice with others. This art has become globally perceptible, which is to say, by the rest of the planet.

Strong contrast, boiling creativity, rapid evolutions, a voice, a global audience: this “mix” is characteristic of the “New Worlds”. The “old continents” produce art of yesterday and today. A new world creates the art of tomorrow. It is the beginning of the next history with all their promises and risks. the most discerning have recognized this.
The results from the first sales of the season, as reported, may have been perceived disappointing yet very enviable; nonetheless, the modern artists have reassured their audience.

The audience of MENASA artists grows; it is the spirit of our history. The visibility of MENASART-FAIR also increases, as it rightfully should/ or it would only be reasonable/fair!

Born in Beirut, a hybrid fair (education and commercial), a living fair rooted in the heart of a key territory, and in the middle of a pivotal period, MENASART-FAIR wanted to affirm its roots at the international level.