Celebrated architects, designers and artists create unique pieces of art for 10x10: Drawing the City London exhibition and auction
Press Release
22nd August 2013
Article 25, the UK's leading architectural and construction aid charity, brings together world renowned artists, architects and designers to produce original artwork for a high profile auction and exhibition held in late November.
As part of the 10x10 Drawing Weekend taking place on 14th and 15th September, a section of London will be divided into a 10x10 grid with each of the 100 squares allocated to a prominent architect, designer or an artist. Using any medium available, they will create 100 pieces of art, capturing the unique, the extra-ordinary, the unnoticed and the ever changing city of London.
One of the participants is Sir Terry Farrell CBE, the UK’s leading architect planner, who has completed many award-winning buildings and masterplans including Embankment Place and The Home Office Headquarters as well as millennium projects such as The Deep in Hull and Centre for Life in Newcastle. Throughout his career, he has championed urban planning and helped shape government policy on key issues.
Also capturing the city of London will be Dr Jonathan Foyle, a historian and television broadcaster best known for presenting a number of television series on architecture and history, including “Climbing Great Buildings’ for BBC2 and “The King’s Lost Bed” on BBC4. He also writes on architectural themes for the Financial Times and his book on Canterbury Cathedral was published this year by Scala.
These are just a few of the 100 artists, designers, architects and public figures helping to raise funds for Article 25. This year, Article 25 will be using all proceeds from the sale of artwork to design and build best practice Street Children’s Centres, helping to get thousands of Africa’s most vulnerable children off the streets permanently and reconnecting them with their families or foster families.
These Street Children’s Centres will be designed together with the children so that they genuinely meet their needs and create the best possible environment for rehabilitation. The Centres will provide them with places to sleep, medical support, counselling and help in reengaging with education or training. Article 25 plans to launch the first of these innovative Centres in Kenya and Ghana, producing a prototype design that can be replicated throughout the continent.
Maxwell Hutchinson, founder of Article 25, broadcaster, architect and former past president of the Royal Institute of British Architects says: "Article 25 is an innovative charity with design, drawing and architecture at its very heart. This is the third year of its 10x10 event which celebrates all the visual representations of the built environment – whether it be drawing, photography, painting or sculpture. As in previous years, an array of well-known architects and artists will once again offer their skills and support for the benefit of those in need of sustainable shelter".
-ends-
For press enquiries and images, please contact: Jana Pavelkova at The Think Tank, janap@thinktank.org.uk, tel: 020 7831 2225.
Notes to Editors
About 10x10 Drawing the City
‘10x10: Drawing the City London’ is an annual cultural event where a grid of 100 squares is laid over a particular area of London. This year the project will focus on East London, an area encompassing striking and innovative examples of architecture, both traditional and modern. Each participant is then allocated a square and creates an original artwork inspired by the buildings and public space within it.
The artworks will be displayed in an exhibition in November 2013, with visitors being given the opportunity to bid in an open electronic auction. The culmination of the exhibition will be a live auction of selected pieces by Sotheby’s at 1 Granary Square on 28thNovember. All the proceeds of the auction go to Article 25, one of the few international charities involved in the built environment.
About Article 25
Article 25 is a UK registered charity named after the 25th Article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which demonstrates that adequate shelter and housing are fundamental to our human rights. We are a team of specialists who design and construct buildings, providing schools, homes, health facilities and childcare centres wherever there is disaster, poverty or need. We offer essential expertise to aid agencies, charities, community organisations, and NGOs in order to facilitate and execute their built projects on the ground. We have worked with Save the Children, the Red Cross, UN Habitat, Muslim Aid, Merlin and many others.
In just 5 years we have undertaken more than 50 projects in 20 countries, and have provided shelter and education to an estimated 15,000 people, most of whom are vulnerable children. Our volunteer database is over 600 strong and growing. We aim to provide more than structures, ensuring that our buildings and the process of construction effectively enhance livelihoods, build capacity, and add value to the economy by using local labour and materials. Our key value is in making donor funds go much further by providing bigger and better buildings that last longer, and have a more sustainable design. We believe that there should never be a life or livelihood lost for the want of the built solution that will serve or preserve it. We deliver more than a building, realising the vital role of built environment solutions in enabling the fulfilment of universal human rights.
Tags:
