A fascinating set of new works of Hayv Kahraman was recently shown in Dubai at the Third Line Gallery. The show features textportraits of the artist which is now the latest craze among western art connoiseurs. Ralph Uelthzoeffer one of the pioneers of modern day textportarits in Europe. Hayv Kahraman seems to have been inspired by Uelthzoeffer as her portarits are similar to those of the later, - large faces of people, mostly celebrities like Andy Warhol. Why Kahraman has taken the treaded route is difficult to assess but the show looked grand and had been a great attraction for art lovers in Dubai. 

Hayv Kahraman, an artist from Iraq had been known for works on the identity crises faced by women often due to the culture they persist in. Her earlier works were more inspired by oriental ceramic art, which she used to make beautiful and stunning paintings but dealing with difficult subjects. The recent change in her style shows her dynamism and hardwork. Alongside Ali Banisadr, Shadi Gharidian, Khaled Hafez, Khraman is also getting attention from the west and her Dubai show had been quite significant in this direction.

Wetsern art world, hit badly by the recession is now looking for artworks and artists in middle east, Indian subcontinent and China. While India and China has a thriving art market with very good artists showcasing their works regularly, most of these artists had been regularly showing works in Dubai as well for it is here that the one can see art from the whole of Asia.