66 artists join Auction for Médecins Sans Frontières

In response to the humanitarian crisis occurring in Gaza, a group of Australian artists have come together and organised an auction to raise funds for Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Initiated by Gundungurra-based artist Nathan Hawkes, the Artists for Médecins Sans Frontières Auction will offer works donated by 66 artists to support those affected by the conflict.

Hawkes himself has donated a large drawing titled Ahead Was Silence to the effort, stating that “personally, it feels crucial to mobilise insoluble feelings of intense distress into some form of positive action”.

MSF is an independent organisation that provides medical aid to those affected worldwide by events such as conflict, disease, and natural disasters. It is non-profit, self-governed, and member-based, and is currently operating in more than 75 countries.

“The choice to partner with MSF comes from a desire for an embodied and activated awareness of a shared humanity, as well as a sense of admiration for the service they deliver throughout the world,” said Hawkes.

Jennifer Tierney, Executive Director MSF Australia, has stated that “we are grateful for the extraordinary generosity and solidarity shown by this collective of Australian artists”.

Among the 66 participating artists is Ben Quilty, who has donated The Migrane, saying that “it was a reference about my beautiful wife Kylie and the migraines that she’s suffered for years. There’s something about the intensity of the work that I think also speaks to the complexity, the sadness, and the terror and horror of the situation on the ground in the Middle East right now.”

Other participating artists include Abdul Abdullah, Abdul-Rahman Abdullah, Adam Lee, Amber Wallis, Angela Brennan, Antonia Perricone, Belem Lett, Ben Soedradjit, Ceara Metlikovic, Celia Gullett, Charlotte Ghaie, Chris Dolman, Clara Adolphs, Dane Lovett, Daniel Domig, Daniel Hollier, David Griggs, Emily Ferretti, Gemma Smith, Georgia Spain, Guido Maestri, Hannah Gartside, Hannah Lange, Harry McAlpine, Hoda Afshar, Jack Lanagan Dunbar, James Drinkwater, Jason Phu, Jasper Knight, Joan Ross, John Bokor, Jude Rae, Julian Meagher, Juno Gemes, Juz Kitson, Kai Wasikowski, Kat Shapiro Wood, Kate Mitchell, Katherine Hattam, Khaled Sabsabi, Laith McGregor, Laura Jones, Lisa Sorgini, Lottie Consalvo, Louise Zhang, Madeleine Pfull, Mason Kimber, Mechelle Bounpraseuth, Mika Utzon Popov, Nadia Hernandez, Nicola Smith, Paul Williams, Renata Pari-Lewis, Richard Lewer, Robert Malherbe, Sally Lee Anderson, Sarah Contos, Sarah-Jane Fordyce, Sera Waters, Seth Birchall, Talia Smith, Tajette O’Halloran, Tom Polo, and Zara-June Williams.

The Artists for Médecins Sans Frontières Auction will go live via online auction at 8am AEST on Monday 27 November, and will close on Monday 4 December. To find out more or make a bid, head to the auction site here.