Melbourne: As a war artist with Australian defense forces in Afghanistan in 2011, Ben Quilty has seen conflict from close range.
When he saw Kabul falling to the Taliban last month, he “knew” he had to do something for a number of refugees who would soon follow.
So Quilty decided to encourage artists to donate their work.
Within a few days, fundraising initiatives, ‘crisis in Afghanistan’, joined 300 creators throughout the world who donated their artwork to digital auctions.
Between August and September, Quilty has collected nearly $ 3 million from auction and several personal donations.
All results go to UNHCR, the UN refugee body.
The other AUD $ 2 million has been guaranteed by the Australian Technology Billionaire Scott Farquhar and Michael Cannon-Brookes and a million dollars contributed by Karen Wilson from the Wilson Foundation.
According to Quilty, he decided to start the campaign because he felt “angry over how the government had left Afghanistan.” “The number of people who fled surprised.
Artists were mobilized to help Afghanistan and start selling their work.
Angus McDonald’s ‘Portrait of Mariam’ sold for AUD 62,000 Danus McDonald, Jude Rae, Guy Maestri and Lucy Culliton are just a few of the famous Australian artists who have Auctioned by work.
There are artists from the Netherlands, Germany and Indonesia too, “said Quilty.
Georgia Spain ‘You, Me And The Weight’ sells for AUD 28,000 but for quilty, “the cheapest big” is when Richard Flanagan, who won the 2014 Booker Man for his novel ‘narrow road to deep north, decided to part with a copy of his valuable book .
The 2014 Richard Flatry winner of the Special Winner Copy collects AUD 20,000 This specialized special edition of the novel is bound to goat skin and hand marble by Sue Doggett, a famous English bookmaker and served to Flanagan that night he won awards.
That alone collected AUD $ 20,000 on August 29 and then donated to the Australian National Library by buyers.
Tina Insue ‘Yvette Coppersmith’ sold for AUD 10,000 “Each selected writer for prizes has received a unique hardbound edition of their novel, every novel is bound by one of the leading English bookmakers.
It is highly valued and the best of my knowledge has never succeeded in to the public market, “Flanagan Toi said.
The author added, “Donating a book …
It seems like it’s not like a decision for me at all.
I think what is the most valuable thing I have? And it is his book.
It’s right that a book written about the crime of the war will help people who suffered from new war crimes, “he said.
In 2016, Quilty and Flanagan had traveled through refugee camps for Syria and Afghanistan in Europe and the Middle East through the Australian Charity World Vision.
The narrative they met haunted them to this day.
“One of the cold nights in Mytilini (Greece), Ben and I met a young woman whose three-year-old son sank the night before at the sea intersection between Turkey and Greece.
He and his family, starvation, have escaped from Aleppo.
I can’t forget the story, “Flanagan said.
“Australia has sent soldiers to Afghanistan and we owe something to Afghans far better than the organized and cruel spirit response made by the Australian Government after the fall of Kabul,” added the author.
A artwork sold with a considerable amount.
– $ 62,000 AUD – is the portrait of McDonald’s angus from Mariam Veiszadeh, a Australian lawyer and a champion of human rights.
The funds will be used by UNHCR to provide shelter, psychological support, water, financial assistance and protection to refugees.
300 international artists sell jobs to help collect AUD $ 3 million for Afghan refugees
