Christie’s is exhibiting ‘We Are All Beirut’ as part of an effort to aid Beirut’s cultural community. The charity auction by the world's leading art business will benefit and aid the restoration and reawakening of the Lebanese capital’s arts and cultural landscape. The proceeds from the very special event, which is taking place 4-24 November, will be entrusted to The Arab Funds for Arts and Culture (AFAC), an independent foundation that supports individual artists, writers, researchers, intellectuals and arts and culture organisations from the Arab region. Through the initiative Christie’s, which offers around 350 annual public sales in over 80 categories, will be supporting important cultural hotspots like the Sursock Museum.
“Supporting the work behind AFAC’s cultural and philanthropic initiative, advocating and directing the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Beirut’s artistic and cultural hubs is so important to us here at Christie’s,” Caroline Louca-Kirkland, Managing Director at Christie’s Middle East, said. “Witnessing such an incredible level of interest and generous contributions to ‘We Are All Beirut,’ regionally and internationally, depicts the humanity and benevolence that is so very much needed today.”
‘We Are All Beirut’ will auction wonderous works of art by artists across three spheres: the arts, the world of design and jewellery. Many of the supporting artists were personally affected by the blast in one way or another, while the range of nationalities refelcts the city’s multi-cultural fabric. Works by internationally acclaimed artists such as Mona Hatoum will be displayed, as well as specifically commissioned works for the cause by Ayman Baalbaki, Serwan Baran, Abdel Rahman Katanani and Nabil Nahas. Additionally, the public sale will showcase iconic designs by Paulin Paulin Paulin and Hervé van der Straaten. And the jewellery segment will include head-turning sets courteously donated by various brands and Maisons, including Hemmerle, Boghossian and Piaget.
A selection of the works in the auction were part of the ‘Beirut Year Zero’ exhibition, which was organised recently in response to the tragic August 4 blast. Organized by Zoe and Nabil Debs of Arthaus Beirut, a place where artists, thinkers, designers and artisans can showcase, debate, exhibit or meet like-minded souls, the exhitibion was seen by thousands of visitors. The proceeds of these selected works will mainly be donated to the Lebanese Red Cross, which has committed to provide direct financial aid to at least 10,000 of the most vulnerable affected families, for a period of seven months.
