Online registration for the Auction closed today (March 6th).
Registered bidders can still bid by phone to the Gallery until
the very last minute. The auction will kick off this evening at 6.30pm.
Over thirty artists donated artworks to the fund-raising auction in
support of Ken Livingstone’s election campaign. Livingstone aims to be
re-elected as London’s Mayor.
Artists who put their work ‘on the line’ represent a cross section of
practitioners, from hip hop YBA’s to the established academicians – a
dynamic snapshot of current goings on. Expected prices also reflect the
state of the artworld. Amongst the ‘lots’ are revered artists such as
Hamilton and Boswell, and although not commanding the hyped up values of the
YBA’s, they add extra value to what is, overall, a pretty classy range of
work. Undoubtedly there is a lot of interest in Banksy’s ‘fresh of the wall’
piece “Sketch for Essex Road” – but if you can’t stretch to the reserved
price there are plenty of worthy pieces you will find to match your pocket.
Of course the reason for this auction is primarily a fund-raising one,
however it has provided a chance to see a range of work from artists whose
works reflect the sentiments in Antony Gormley’s statement that art
continues to be a potent expression of personal freedom.
Keep logging into this website to see what happened at the Auction as well
as to continue viewing the artworks.
The website will continue as a means for discussing the future of the arts
and the political policies that impact upon them.
