ISLAMABAD: An auction of over 220 artworks donated by leading national and international artists fetched over $100,000 on Monday to help Pakistan’s flood-affected families, said the organizers who applauded everyone who decided to participate in the fundraising activity.
The live auction along with an exhibition of art pieces was organized by Art Aid, a humanitarian initiative by Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts, at a local hotel in Islamabad.
As a developing country responsible for less than one percent of global carbon emissions, Pakistan suffered disproportionately from the adverse effects of climate change during this monsoon season that began in mid-June.
As more than 33 million people were affected by the widescale flooding across the country, Art Aid reactivated its social mobilization network to gather aid and resources to help families who are now facing an existential crisis.
“We have collected over $100,000 so far by auctioning the artwork,” Jamal Shah, patron-in-chief of Art Aid and chairman Hunerkada, announced. “The work of art never devalues. It is a good investment for you, and your contribution will help flood-affected people.”
The artwork of different local and international artists is presented at an auction arranged by Art Aid in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 10, 2022 (AN Photo)
The work of different artists belonging to various countries, including India, Belgium, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and United States, remained on the display in the federal capital before the auction was held.
“With the extreme urgency and belief in your charitable nature as a nation, we invite your contribution toward a relief effort to provide expedited rehabilitation and aid to disaster-stricken areas across Pakistan,” Shah said at the outset of the program.
The prominent artists whose work was auctioned included Bashir Ahmed, Jamal Shah, Kaleem Khan, Akram Dos, Nadir Jamali, Mubarak Shah, Saeed Qureshi, Elahi Vashmati, Amna Patodi, Hadia, Mohiz, Tayyaba, Murad Khan, Doctor Sameena Zahir, Faiza Khan, Farah, Mahmood, Nadia Raza, Akbar Ali, Jameel Naqsh, Sadequin, Nargis Jahanzeb and Amin Guljee.
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including diplomats, United Nations representatives, artists, and private sector executives.
Local artists and singers also sang and performed at the event.
“We are very encouraged by the generous response of art lovers who chose to pick up quite a few artworks would make about 55 percent of the total work,” Shah concluded while describing the program as a “big success.”
Mohammad Awais, who participated in the event, said it was encouraging to see people from different walks of life contribute for the rehabilitation of the flood-affected people.
“This shows we as a nation are concerned about our brothers and sisters hit by the ravaging floods and will be doing our best to help them cope with this crisis,” he told Arab News.
