Second version of Jamal Al Mahamel will go on sale in Dubai in March

Amal Al Mahamel II will go on sale at Christies in Dubai in March. Courtesy of Christies Dubai

A second version of one of the most iconic pieces of Middle Eastern art is going on sale in Christie's in March. Jamal Al Mahamel II or Camel of Burdens II depicts an elderly man with Jerusalem on his back and has become a symbol of the Palestinian struggle. The original, from 1973, was displayed in Dubai last March during This Is Palestine, a festival of culture. The second version is larger and more colourful and was created in 2005 by the artist Suleiman Mansour. It is estimated to bring between US$200,000 and US$300,000 at the auction at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel on March 18 at 7.00pm. Part of the proceeds will be benefitting initiatives that support struggling artists in the region.

The painting will be on public display as of March 15.