Marking a second collaboration for the Beirut-London co-organisers, the landmark solo show, titled Time in Motion, will feature a range of works by Assadour the majority acquired from a prestigious New York and Paris based private collector who treasured the collection for decades as well as, international collections, including several rare and never-before-seen pieces, created across four decades.
Assadour, oil on canvas,
54.5 x 45.5 cm. 1998
Assadour, Horizons,
oil on canvas, 55 x 46 cm. 1990-1994
Highly collectable and sought after, Assadour’s oeuvre reflects his diverse heritage, cosmopolitan outlook and individual backstory, transcending cultures and geographical borders, which combine to give it broad-based, enduring appeal.
The themes Assadour chooses to explore are universal and relate to the modern condition, spanning issues that range from exile and uprootedness to the impact of war and identity. Humanity’s relationship with time is a common thread that runs through his artworks, which combine geometric abstraction with elements of constructivism and Parisian surrealism. Shapes, letters, numbers, and other iconographic motifs are brought together to create diagrams, juxtaposed with clockwork and temporal elements. Indications of urban chaos are other features of his work, which, over time began to also include human silhouettes, sharpening the focus on his questions around humanity’s place in the world and the contradictions this presents.
This landmark UK show of Assadour’s works features pieces completed in oil on canvas, tempera and watercolour on paper, and gouache and watercolour on paper, sometimes mounted on board.
Standout pieces include ‘Horizons’, an oil on canvas work which not only clearly displays the artist’s mastery in the use of various techniques, but also includes the incorporation of sand to great effect. Other highlights are ‘No Man’s Land’ and ‘Paysage avec Personnage à Droite’, both set to be key draws for their striking use of colour, and ‘Protée’, a figurative work, featuring two of Assadour’s hallmark silhouettes, with an almost ethereal quality.
Raya Mamarbachi, co-founder and CEO, Artscoops, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be returning to Cromwell Place and the London art scene for a second consecutive year, and delighted that our highly anticipated reunion with Janet Rady Fine Art brings with it an opportunity to present this historic solo showcase of works by Assadour from a standout private New York collection.”
Assadour, MASQUES-I II, etching on paper, 65.6 x 49.3 cm. 1971 – E.A 
Assadour, Untitled I, etching on paper, 18 x 15 cm, 98_200 
Assadour, Untitled II, etching on paper, 25 x 17 cm. 1975 – E.A 
Assadour, Untitled III, etching on paper, 20 x 14 cm. 1982 – 46_60
Janet Rady added: “Assadour’s unique approach to the modern human condition, which urges us to reflect on our surroundings, gives his work universal appeal and timeless relevance. Add to this the fact that his pieces are limited in number and demand for Armenian-related art is at an all-time high, and you have the ingredients for an exciting exhibition of a truly unique collection of artworks that is bound to generate widespread interest among collectors.”
Time in Motion, a solo show of works by Assadour, will be open to the public at Viewing Room 1, 4 Cromwell Place, London, during Harmonies of Home the Harmonies Week 2024 from Tuesday, May 28 to Sunday, June 9, 2024. Over the two-week period, the gallery will take visitors on a cultural journey, intertwining diverse artistic threads from across Southwest Asia, North Africa and its diasporas, showcasing works that resonate with the spirit of a region brimming with heritage, innovation and shared narratives.
Time in Motion opening hours:
Tuesday, June 4, 2024: 18.00- 21.00 Preview & VIP opening, by invitation only
Wednesday, June 5 to Saturday, June 8, 2024: 11am – 6pm
Sunday, June 9, 2024: 11am – 2pm
About Janet Rady Fine Art
Based between London and the United Arab Emirates, Janet Rady expresses her creative talents as a specialist in contemporary art. Highly educated in the field, Janet holds a master’s degree in Islamic Art History from the University of Melbourne, and a BA from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London.
As well as expert knowledge of art history, Janet has extensive industry experience, spanning over 35 years. Passionate about the international art market, she continues to build on her diverse skills from her time at leading auction houses and major commercial galleries.
For more information, please visit janetradyfineart.com.
About Artscoops
Artscoops is a leading online platform for art from the Middle East and Africa which holds both digital and physical shows in Lebanon and abroad. A leader of both established and emerging regional artists, Artscoops has teamed up with several high-profile partners internationally including Volta Basel and Lyon Contemporary Art Biennale.
Artscoops was founded by May and Raya Mamarbachi who were driven to further the growth of the art market in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and make art from the region more accessible to collectors worldwide. Dedicated specifically to MENA and international art Artscoops works with a network of leading international galleries, private collectors, institutions, and foundations to source a wide range of the best traditional and contemporary artworks. The Artscoops team of experts also provide expertise professional services to both established and beginner collectors looking to buy and sell art, which include art advisory, art financing and art shipping services.
For more information, please visit artscoops.com.
About Assadour
Born in Beirut in 1943 and of Western Armenian descent, Assadour studied art at the Italian Cultural Centre in Beirut. He then travelled to Perugia, Italy, after gaining scholarships from the centre to further his studies at the Pietro Vannucci Academy in 1962 and 1963. While in Italy, he became increasingly interested in drawing as a discipline.
In 1964, Assadour won a competition organized by the Lebanese Ministry of Culture, which provided him with a further scholarship to study at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where his education spanned engraving, watercolour, drawing and painting.
Initially, his artistry was centred on paper and printmaking, but gradually he began to shift his focus to landscapes filled with geometric shapes and, later, additionally, human silhouettes. In his work, he questions humanity’s place in the world, commenting on the conflicts, challenges and irreconcilable elements relating to the modern condition, under the broader umbrella themes of time and history.
Assadour’s work has been widely exhibited globally. Recent high-profile events include two solo exhibitions: ‘Tracks and Paths’ (2022) at the Osthaus Museum in Hagen, Germany; and ‘Landscape in Motion’ (2016) at the Sursock Museum, Lebanon.
