Plinth

The 11 core organisers are all Royal Academicians but are working independently of the RA. One member of the group, Emma Stibbon, highlights the 'severity of the situation' in Gaza, which worsens each day, especially as the cold and wet winter season fast approaches. ‘Israel’s recent decision to ban UNWRA is significantly worsening an already critical humanitarian situation in Gaza and MSF’s long history in the Occupied Palestinian Territories makes them needed now more than ever', Stibbon saysJudging from the number of donated works and the speed at which the project has come together, the sense of urgency is clearly shared. ‘I'm really moved every time I go through the catalogue of works’, Stibbon says. ‘It's quite emotional to see how generous artists have been.’ Beginning from an informal brief, each artist has donated works, covering a range of mediums and styles.

Jeremy Deller’s three pieces, for instance, are direct, each containing a fragmented sentence: ‘Lost Children.’ ‘Buzz of a Drone.’ ‘G is for’. Antony Gormley has donated a work from his Blood Field series – drawings of figures in blood on paper. Via the similarly delicate process of folding a sheet of paper back on itself, Wolfgang Tillmans’ Paper drop (reversed) II resembles a drop of blood, graphic as a logo on a blood drive campaign. Meanwhile, Mona Hatoum’s The Blues 27.05.24 (3) likewise straddles the line between abstraction and figuration, with its blue grid pattern resembling a mashrabiya, the gridded carved wooden latticework screens characteristic of traditional architecture in the Middle East.

The sheer range of expression is a testament to what art can do that, say, the inflammatory rhetoric, rote arguments, and lazy habits of our chosen newsfeeds cannot. For Rana Begum, another of the organising artists, the fundraiser has also demonstrated the need to create ‘that space for conversation’ – for people to discuss difficult topics freely, without fear of criticism or censorship. ‘We're so fortunate being artists, where we can confront what’s happening in the world. I feel really strongly about being able to have the space to do that.’

Begum’s hope is that the exhibition and programming provide a space for collective conversation. ‘There are a lot of diverse voices,’ she says. ‘There are lots of levels of emotion, and passion as well. And when it comes to Palestine, we want to be able to show and create that space for artists, and this is where we felt it was necessary to reach out to curators who can really bring those diverse voices together.’

An exhibition at 14 Wharf Road will showcase all the artworks available in the auction. Rahila Haque and Nabila Abdel Nabi are curating a programme alongside the exhibition, featuring works and resources that contextualise the historical and contemporary situation in Palestine, and a weekend of events and performances. This includes an installation of work by Forensic Architecture — a research group that investigates political violence, environmental destruction, and violations of human rights. As Haque explains, 'Forensic Architecture’s work illustrates the destruction in Gaza, especially focusing on medical infrastructure.’. On Forensic Architecture’s online platforms, ‘you can navigate the research that they've been doing to really understand the situation on the ground’ as well as ‘maps that visualise the scale of things.’

The fundraiser is part of ‘a huge tradition and history of artists coming together to build independent platforms outside of institutions through which they can share resources with each other, beyond their own circle,’ Haque says. ‘Collectively, it's a form of bearing witness, which is what we've been asked to do by Palestinians over this period of time.’ The relentlessness of the news cycle can lead to fatigue and feed into our feelings of helplessness; while primarily the exhibition and auction is about fundraising, ‘this gathering is also a form of bearing witness, and each work is that, regardless of what the work itself is about. That's what each artist is offering us.’

'We are deeply moved and grateful for the generosity of this collective of artists who have come together to support the work of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT),’ says Dr Natalie Roberts, Executive Director MSF UK. ‘Their creativity and commitment are a testament to the power of art to inspire compassion and solidarity. These funds will have a direct impact on our ability to provide immediate life-saving medical care to some of the most marginalised people in society. On behalf of MSF, thank you for standing with us and the people of OPT in these challenging times.'

By Sammi Gale

Cover image: Caragh Thuring RA
VFA #32, 2021
GelRelief ink on Canaletto Velino 300gsm, monotype
33.2 x 42.1 cm

The auction will be live until 1 December, 2024, with the exhibition running over two weekends.

Auction dates: 18th November – 1st December 2024

Exhibition: 14 Wharf Rd, London N1 7RW
Exhibition opening times:
23rd - 24th November 11am-5pm
29th - 1st December 11am-5pm

Online catalogue