About this episode
The episode features a discussion with Dr. Ridha Moumni on the intersections of art history, market dynamics, and ethics in the context of Arab and African art.
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Ridha Moumni, Tunisian art historian, archaeologist, former Villa Medici fellow, and now Chairman for the Middle East & Africa at Christie’s in London. His career moves between scholarship, heritage work, and the global art market, a perspective that gives him a rare, layered understanding of how Arab and African art circulates, is valued, and is narrated. We talk about what it means to shift from academia to the market, how research can shape commercial decisions, and how institutions like Christie’s are approaching Africa and the Middle East today. The conversation touches on provenance and ethics, the idea of “emerging markets”, the place of local actors in global infrastructures, and the delicate balance between cultural value and financial value. A thoughtful, grounded discussion with someone who navigates the art world’s most complex intersections: memory, ethics, and market dynamics. Useful links: - Website: https://www.diptykmag.com/ - Newsletter: Sign-up form - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diptykmagazine/
People in this episode
Guest: Dr. Ridha Moumni
Topics covered
- art history
- global art market
- cultural value
- ethics in art
- provenance
- Middle East art
- African art
Keywords
- art historian
- archaeologist
- cultural heritage
- emerging markets
- commercial decisions
- art institutions
- memory
- market dynamics
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Christie’s, Villa Medici
Places: Tunisia, London
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