Christie's auction house has withdrawn two paintings by Lebanese artist Ayman Baalbaki from an auction it is holding in London this week following complaints, according to emails reviewed by Reuters. The artist criticized the decision, deeming it a form of "discrimination." The two works are "The Veiled," a two-meter tall piece depicting a figure draped in what resembles a keffiyeh, and "Unknown," part of a series created by Baalbaki about protesters in the Arab world, depicting a person wearing a gas mask and a red headband inscribed with the word "Revolutionaries" in Arabic. The works have been removed from the Christie's website for the modern and contemporary art auction in the Middle East. A third painting by Baalbaki, which appears to show burning red flags, remains up for auction.
A Christie's spokesperson stated, "Sales-related decisions remain confidential between Christie's and the auction participants." An email dated October 30 from Christie's, seen by Reuters, stated that the "removal decision" was "based on complaints," without specifying the nature of these complaints or their source. The email indicated that "if a work faces several complaints," the withdrawal is a "standard policy" to avoid "damaging press." Baalbaki, 48, expressed suspicion that the decision is linked to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. He compared this to the postponement of a Palestinian author's award last month, citing reports that the awards ceremony was rescheduled to a later date when "the atmosphere is less politically charged."
