AEGiS-Reuters: Hirst and Bono to hold art charity sale

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

Hirst and Bono to hold art charity sale

Reuters NewMedia - December 5, 2007

LONDON (Reuters) - Artist Damien Hirst has invited some of the world's leading contemporary artists to donate works for an auction on February 14 next year which is expected to raise more than $40 million ($20 million pounds) for charity.

The (RED) Auction at Sotheby's in New York, also supported by Irish rocker Bono, will feature works by artists including Hirst himself, Georg Baselitz, Antony Gormley, Subodh Gupta, Anish Kapoor and Jeff Koons.

The money will go to the United Nations Foundation to support HIV/AIDS relief programmes in Africa.

"I remember when I couldn't give my art away, it wasn't long ago either," Hirst said in a statement.

One of his pill cabinets fetched nearly $20 million earlier this year, and a red heart-shaped butterfly painting called "All You Need Is Love" is one of seven works Hirst is contributing to the charity sale and is expected to raise $1.0-1.5 million.

"For a relatively small amount of effort on each artist's part we can actually save many lives," Hirst continued. "It's great to be able to give something back and make a difference."

Bono added: "I love art for art's sake, but what we have here is a real moment in art history."

The works on sale on Valentine's Day will be shown at the Gagosian Gallery in New York from February 4 to 13.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White, editing by Paul Casciato)
071205
RE071209

Copyright © 2007 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .