BIENNALE OF SYDNEY - INAUGURAL BENEFIT AUCTION
The Biennale of Sydney, titled NIRIN, announced, for the first time ever, art lovers from around the world will have the opportunity to bid online for selected artworks featured in the exhibition. Bidings are open until Sunday, September 27, 2020.
Globally, the arts community has been deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under the artistic direction of acclaimed Indigenous Australian artist, Brook Andrew, this year’s Biennale, which is artist- and First Nations-led, showcases more than 700 artworks by 101 artists and collectives from around the world.
Artists who are participating in the auction will generously donate 30% of all proceeds to the Biennale of Sydney—a not-for-profit organisation that has showcased the work of more than 1,900 artists from more than 100 countries for nearly 50 years—while 70% of proceeds will go directly to the artist. This inaugural benefit auction will help ensure that the Biennale continues to commission new projects by some of the world’s most innovative artists and keep access to the best contemporary art free for all to enjoy.
Participating artists: Tony Albert, Colectivo Ayllu, Eric Bridgeman, Randy Lee Cutler, Jose Dávila, Karla Dickens, Léuli Eshrāghi, Andre Eugene, Iltja Ntjarra Many Hands Art Centre, Emily Karaka, Barbara McGrady, Kulimoe'anga Stone Maka, Noŋgirrŋa Marawili, John Miller, Jota Mombaça, Manuel Ocampo, Rosana Paulino, Laure Prouvost, Anders Sunna, Tennant Creek Brio and Ahmed Umar.
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Léuli Eshrāghi - les langues poussent jusqu’où notre plaisir dépassera aujourd’hui, 2020 - pink peach glass, neon phrase, aluminum frame - 35 x 235 cm
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Colectivo Ayllu / Migrantes Transgresorxs - El Retiro/The retreat, 2019
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Karla Dickens - Hokey pokey, 2019 - inkjet print - 38 × 58 cm - Edition 4 of 20 - (unframed)
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Emily Karaka - Kingitanga ki Te Ao (They will throw stones), 2020 - acrylic and mixed media on canvas, - 212 x 170 cm
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Randy Lee Cutler - Dead Forest, 2019 - hand cut paper collage - 22.5 x 24.7 cm - (unframed)
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Tennant Creek Brio - 2 Women 5 Dragons, 2020 - mixed media on repurposed poker machine, single-channel digital video, colour, sound - 129 x 56 x 65 cm
Karla Dickens, who has chosen to donate all the proceeds from the sale of her work to the Biennale of Sydney as a gesture of solidarity with other artists, said: "NIRIN is an experience of human connection. Given the neglect of artists worldwide through such intense times, I see the opportunity to donate artwork to the Biennale auction as my duty; a duty of love to fellow artists, their work and their survival. Together we stand."
Barbara Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Biennale of Sydney, said: "For many artists and organisations, the past six months have been rough, and a time of deep uncertainty. The Biennale of Sydney is grateful to our tremendous community who, by purchasing artworks through this auction, can keep a powerful piece of NIRIN for themselves once the exhibition is closed, and feel good about directly supporting participating artists and the Biennale."
