Royal Albert Hall Opening

Love Art Change Lives

http://specialyoga.org.uk

One of the most appealing aspects of the contemporary art auction Love Art Change Lives, which raises funds for London’s The Special Yoga Centre, is that the art on offer is both cross-generational and thoroughly eclectic.

At the event, held on May 15 (but for which online bidding is already open) there’ll be a live auction (with the highest estimate at £12,000) and a silent one (with works estimated between £150 and £2,500). At the latter, art enthusiasts will be able to quietly gazump their rivals without the frenzy of an auctioneer’s steer.

Lots include iconic works by stellar artists, including a 1980 lithograph of a sunlight-saturated swimming pool by David Hockney and a more recent Damien Hirst etching of a butterfly, alongside pieces by emerging artists.

These include Hugo Dalton’s ethereal light projection of a drawing of a rose. Although it uses a domestically scaled projector and slide, Dalton explains: “I normally use corporate logo projectors to beam out this work. It’s about reclaiming the beauty of nature that’s often branded for monetary gain.” Another highlight is Whitney McVeigh’s powerfully turbulent, semi-abstract, semi-figurative portrait of a mother. Its conflicting styles mirror the contrast between “her internal self and external world”, she says.

The event is a two-tiered affair: some will make a beeline for work by familiar artists they hold dear; others will follow their own nose, deciding that a less well-known artist’s work is worthy of attention. The main emphasis, however, is on the funds being raised. The Special Yoga Centre provides yoga therapy to children who suffer from conditions such as autism, cerebral palsy and Asperger’s Syndrome, helping them to develop physical strength and increase self-awareness.   (by Dominic Lutyens)

Evening Standard

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