#GoodNews: Art Auction to Raise Funds for Kerala Flood Relief

The proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).

(Photo courtesy: The News Minute)

In an attempt to raise funds for the ongoing flood relief work in south India, Art Rises for Kerala (ARK), the state's first live fundraiser art auction, will be held on 18 January at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.

Mumbai-based auction house Saffronart, which is the organiser, and Kochi Biennale Foundation have joined hands for the live auction that will feature 42 works of modern and contemporary Indian art.

The sale will be led by an untitled canvas and resin work from 2018 by leading contemporary artist Anish Kapoor, Saffronart said. It is estimated to be sold between Rs 1.35 crore and 1.75 crore.

Other top artists who have donated works for the auction include Atul Dodiya, Anju Dodiya, GR Iranna, Gigi Scaria, Sudhir Patwardhan and Vivan Sundaram. The auction also features two rare drawings by coveted artist Amrita Sher-Gil.

The sale will have no buyer's premium and its proceeds will be donated to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF).

Several parts of Kerala were ravaged by devastating floods in August 2018, prompting many art and cultural organisations to raise funds for rescue and rebuilding efforts in the state.

"Through this auction, we reiterate our solidarity with the resilient people of this beautiful state," Saffronart CEO Dinesh Vazirani said, adding that Saffronart is counting on the generous support of art collectors across the world.

The live auction will be held at Grand Hyatt, Kochi, and will be preceded by viewings at Bastion Bungalow in Fort Kochi from January 5-17.

The Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018 was inaugurated on 12 December 2018 in Kochi and is expected to go on till 29 March 2019. The art exhibition was inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and is curated by artist Anita Dube.