Shortly after Christie’s supported the arts and cultural landscape of Beirut, Sotheby’s is partnering with two non-profit organisations (Creatives for Lebanon and Art for Beirut) to raise funds through art, targeted to those affected by the devasting explosion that rippled through Beirut on August 4th.
Titled ‘To Beirut With Love’, the bidding will begin next month and a handpicked selection of donations from leading contemporary artists, fashion designers and jewellery designers are set to go under the hammer, including a silk haute couture gown designed by Egyptian actress Sherihan to wear in her ‘Thousand and One Nights’ Fawazeer show in 1987 (signed by the star for the auction), as well as a unique sky-blue embellished dress from the collection of beloved Lebanese singer Majida El Roumi.
The highlight of the auction is a custom-made Haute Couture gown by Elie Saab. It took 80 hours of pattern making, 190 hours of stitching and 250 hours of embroidery to create the thigh-high slitted gown, and made of 8m of embroidered tulle with silk thread, 4000 sequins and 3m of silk chiffon. The dress was first worn by Emma Stone at the 2015 Oscar Awards, and certainly took the spotlight on the red carpet.
“Lebanon is home to an artistic community whose contributions to the cultural landscape cannot be overstated,” says Edwards Gibbs, Sotheby’s Chairman for the Middle East. “The explosion in the Port of Beirut this summer sent shockwaves through the city and the world, impacting every sector of society in Lebanon with countless tales of loss, damage and displacement. Sotheby’s has come together with our partners to host the auction ‘To Beirut with Love’ to provide much-needed relief and funds to aid the healing process.”
Mark your calendars for the ‘To Beirut With Love’ auction as it is set to run between December 7-15, 2020. The property will be sold to benefit charities supporting the Beirut Explosion including Nusaned, Beit El Baraka, Baytna Baytak, Al Fanar and House of Christmas.
Now, discover Design Miami’s ‘Architects for Beirut’ initiative.
