Head East, Elton

Collectors should look at Shirin Neshat rather than Nan Goldin

Elton John's problem with a Nan Goldin photograph is unlikely to land him in jail. It's just as well he wasn't looking at it online. Fortunately for Elton, he is an esteemed collector of photographic art, which means that nobody is going to mistake him for a peddler of pornography. The real problem is not so much with his taste but the entire genre.

Collecting photos without naked people in them is as difficult as collecting Orientalist art without odalisques and provocative snake charmers. Flipping through the catalogue of 'photo-London' -- a leading event of its type -- seven out of 44 photos had a large expanse of nudity. The cover has an alarming burlesque dancer, and inside there is a photo of a large lizard about to take an unconventional bite out of a lady who is almost wearing a kimono.

To avoid any of the misunderstandings that he is currently having, Elton should look in a different direction. Photographs from the Islamic world could be the answer. He already owns some works by Shirin Neshat, so maybe he should expand this side of his collection. Then he will only have to answer to the authorities in Iran, rather than the police of Tyneside, one of England's rougher and less-understanding neighbourhoods.

Something New from Sotheby's

News about Islamic art is not a daily happening. However, Sotheby's is offering something for today at least with the announcement that it will be starting sales of Modern and Contemporary Arab and Iranian Art. This comes after Christie's success in the Gulf. The difference is that the auction will be in London. The date is 24 October. If the press release is anything to go by, the catalogue will be a collector's item too.