About Nadour
Nadour is a non-commercial collection of contemporary art from the Arab world and Iran. Our website is regularly updated with recent acquisitions, hand-picked by the collection’s owner and its curator.
After visiting several exhibitions of leading-edge Arab and Iranian art, and personally meeting a number of the artists involved, Rüdiger K. Weng set about finding a way to share his creative discoveries with other collectors and art lovers internationally. To this end he established the Nadour collection, together with curator and advisor Diana Wiegersma.
The Arabic word nadour (nathour) means observation platform; a vantage point from which you can experience the pleasure of a new-found perspective, or an unexpected moment of transcendence. Our collection is similarly a platform for significant works from some of the world’s most engaging and challenging contemporary artists.
We actively seek out distinct works from across disciplines and mediums, including installation, sculpture, painting, drawing, print, photography and video. Our inspiration comes from artists who aren’t afraid to risk a creative departure from established paradigms, and who know how to shake expectations. We adamantly avoid brute classifications and sweeping statements, allowing each work to speak boldly for itself.
Nadour is a constantly evolving project. As the collection grows, we will make new acquisitions available to view on the website, and continue forging strong relationships with artists to encourage their creative development. We regularly loan pieces out, and in future our aim is to curate exhibitions and publish a book based on the collection, as well as to establish a foundation.
“The Arabic word nadour (nathour) means observation platform; a vantage point from which you can experience the pleasure of a new-found perspective, or an unexpected moment of transcendence.”
Rüdiger K Weng:
“For all my life I have been interested in art, archaeology and history. I have also always been a collector. Early on I started collecting stamps, then coins, then compiling what is probably the largest collection of documents on the financial history of the Western world.
“I started my career in the financial sector after recognising I had to make money to realise my dreams. Later on I turned my hobby into a profession, trading modern and contemporary art from the West.
“While visiting the Middle East a few years ago I was immediately struck by the originality of the work coming out of the region. What was more, the artists I met were as warm and engaging as their art was exciting and evocative. It wasn’t long before I started building a dedicated collection of singular pieces, and after returning to Europe I began to seek out other Arab and Iranian artists living across the globe.
“Nadour isn’t a restricted space; it is an open collection we share with institutions and individuals worldwide. With every piece we add, my curiosity grows and my desire to share the collection with as many people as possible is reinvigorated.”
Diana Wiegersma:
“I first became aware of the art world when I was very young, and over time found myself particularly attracted to contemporary art, especially the work from artist from the Arab world.
"Having gained a Masters degree in History of Art and Architecture at the Sorbonne in Paris, I took part in the International Curatorial Programme at De Appel, based in Amsterdam. I then worked for various galleries, art institutions as well as organising independent exhibitions and advising private collectors and cultural authorities of the MENA region.
"The Nadour collection is a fantastic opportunity for me to forge links with artists, and to gain a deeper insight into their work, thanks to the many exchanges, discussions, trips and experiences along the way.
"From now our plan is to build on these fruitful exchanges, and to share the rich and protean work that is being produced by artists of the Arab world and Iran."
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