This article appeared in The Custodian Issue #66 that was dedicated to the Dalloul Art Foundation and its custodian Basel Dalloul in which we covered the foundation’s mission, influence and importance in championing and safeguarding Arab art for generations to come.
Rima Nasser: Basel Dalloul serves as the custodian of the Dalloul Art Foundation. What is your impression of his work in preserving and promoting art, and how does his leadership impact the art community?
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi: Basel Dalloul has taken the bold step of effectively fine- tuning an already exceptional collection of art from west Asia and north Africa, by de-accessing a limited number of works and re-investing the proceeds into the collection in order to elevate its scholarship and its artistic assets. The Dalloul collection is amongst the world’s leading collections in terms of geographic and ethnic diversity and Dr. Basel is infusing it with his own vision that will only further enhance the collection’s standing.
About Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi
Sultan Sooud Al-Qassemi is the founder of the Sharjah-based Barjeel Art Foundation whose mission is to promote art by artists from the Arab world through exhibitions locally and internationally.