Grayson Perry joins 60+ artists in charity auction for victims of torture. Drawing a Line Under Torture has raised more than £1 million since its inception in 2003 and they hope to raise more than £300,000 in 2023. 100% of the sale price of every work sold goes directly to Freedom from Torture, a British charity who have supported over 30,000 survivors of torture since 1985 with their pioneering torture rehabilitation services.
Grayson Perry. Product of The Unconscious.32 x 32 cm. Unique.Glazed ceramic. 2023Guide price £80,000-£95,000Kindly donated by Grayson Perry and Victoria Miro©Grayson Perry. Courtesy the artist and Victoria MiroGrayson Perry charity auction
The work that Freedom from Torture carries out to support survivors of torture in their recovery and rebuilding their lives here in the UK is incredibly important. I am delighted to be supporting them in raising funds for their vital services by donating a work for the Art Auction: Drawing A Line Under Torture.
Grayson Perry commented
Freedom From Torture work with survivors of torture to help them feel safe, heal and be strong again. In 2021 our pioneering rehabilitation services supported 709 survivors from almost 50 countries, including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Iran – and who also work tirelessly to speak out and expose torture, defending the rights of survivors globally.
In 1994, this included working with Iranian writer, artist and civil rights activist, Nasrin Parvaz and supporting her on her journey of recovery.
Nasrin commented,
I was arrested in 1982, tortured and spent eight years in an Iranian jail. When I came to the UK, Freedom from Torture not only provided me with vital therapy, but also encouraged me to express myself creatively. I am proud to now be able to take part in Drawing A Line Under Torture and to donate my work, ‘End of Imprisonment and Borders’ (2023), and that funds raised this year will help rebuild lives shattered by oppressive regimes all around the world.
Sonya Sceats, Chief Executive of Freedom from Torture, said,
From our work with survivors every day, we know how torturers try to take away their voices. Art therapy plays a vital role in helping people to express themselves again. Our art auction is a very special event for us, and this year it comes at a time when values of compassion and fairness, which unite us as a community, are under threat. We’re very grateful to all these incredible artists offering such a unique and creative way to show solidarity with people who have endured unimaginable cruelty, and to support those in the UK to rebuild their lives in safety.
Full list of artists:
David Hockney, Adam Nathaniel Furman, Ai Weiwei, Alec Doherty, Anna Liu, Antony Gormley, Beatrice Hasell-McCosh, Becky Blair, Ben Johnson, Carolina Piteira, Christianna Mitchell, Clare Woods, Cornelia Parker, Dan Schlesinger, David Nash, David Nash (red tree RA), Estate of Howard Hodgkin, Fiona McAlpine, Georg Baselitz, Georg Wilson, Giacometti, Grayson Perry, Harry Bunce, Ian Davenport
Jake Garfield, Jake Wood Evans, Jill Berelowitz, Jim Dine, Joe Tilson, Julian Opie, Kate Corbett-Winder, Kate Scott, Kathryn Maple, Kelly Anna, Kiki Smith, Maggi Hambling, Michael Craig-Martin, Miranda Donovan, Mona Hatoum, Pablo Bronstein, Patrick Caufield, Patrick Hughes, Paul Benney, Paul Winstanley, Paula Rego Estate, Peter Barber, Quentin Blake, Radu Leon, Rebecca John Richard Long, Rob & Nick Carter, Sally McLaren, Stanley Donwood, Stephen Finer, Steve Tompkins, Sutapa Biswas, The Connor Brothers, Will Soloman, Yinka Shonibare.
Plus two artists who have survived torture Ronce/Iqbal and Nasrin Parvaz
For Silent Auction: register and bid online today artauction.freedomfromtorture.org
Live auction of 12 selected works: from 7:30pm 6th November at Sotheby’s. For more information on bidding in the live auction, please contact artauction@freedomfromtorture.org
Drawing A line Under Torture is supported by the Art Auction Committee which includes: Cinny Aumonier, Ariane Bankes, Alan Cristea, Claire Curtice, Kathleen Dempsey, Sebastian Gibson, Caroline Rupert, Henry St George and Isabel de Vasconcellos.
Freedom from Torture is a registered British charity that supports people who have survived torture to heal, feel safe and strong again. Together with a movement of compassionate people, we speak out to expose torture and defend the rights of survivors, nationally and globally. freedomfromtorture.org
