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Lot 487

Mourad Salem
(Tunisia, born 1956)
Dont Trust Sweet Leila

8 April 2014, 10:30 BST
London, New Bond Street

£8,000 - £10,000

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Mourad Salem (Tunisia, born 1956)

Dont Trust Sweet Leila
mixed media on canvas
executed between 2011-2013
195 x 130cm (76 3/4 x 51 3/16in).

Footnotes

Provenance:
Property from a private collection, London

Having Tunisian, Turkish and Ottoman roots, Salem questions the Arab world's leaders of yesteryear, which he often portrays as figures of fun. His funky and kitsch Sultans and Sultanas are painted on canvas surrounded with fake fur, ostrich feathers, costume jewellery, floral accessories or elaborate frames, emphasising their immaturity as figures of power, although they are portrayed with some affection.

History has shown that for the most part, these were leaders who did not lead; men in power who abused their power or used religion as a tool for power. Salem's work hints that old times may be coming back; that there are now leaders who continue to ignore the demands of the public and the requirements of our times.

Additional information

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