Joy of Giving

The big-name art auction — where all the names are kept secret

Over 150 works will be shown at the exhibition (including some big names and my own)

Max Fraser is something of a legend in my book. His creatively democratic charity project Joy of Living returns this autumn, presenting over 150 original artworks to be sold to raise money for Maggie’s Centres.

Max invited over 150 established and emerging designers to create a one-off artwork that expresses the ‘joy of living’, using just three pieces of different coloured paper supplied from the Colorplan range by G.F Smith. The works (signed on the back to preserve anonymity until after the purchase) will be up for public bid from the 5th — 10th September 2017 and displayed at the Grade II listed postmodern One Poultry building in the City of London, designed by James Stirling. The project aims to raise more than £80,000 for Maggie’s, a charity that helps people to build a life beyond cancer, manage the impact of a diagnosis of cancer and to live with hope and determination.

Responding to the brief, artworks have been generously donated by a range of creative talent, including designers Jasper Morrison, Fredrikson Stallard, Barber & Osgerby, Tom Dixon, Ross Lovegrove, Eley Kishimoto and Ilse Crawford; architects John Pawson, Ivan Harbour and Steven Holl; jewellery designers Hannah Martin and Jade Jagger; and artists Daniel Eatock, Rolf Sachs and Jake & Dinos Chapman (and myself).

Artists such as Jake & Dinos Chapman and architecture stars John Pawson and Steven Holl have contributed lots

From a selection of 12 colours, the designers were each provided with three randomly-selected A4 coloured sheets and asked to manipulate the paper in any manner they desired, and to supply a short text on the inspiration for their piece. Although the work will be signed, it will be displayed anonymously and the name of the creator not revealed until the piece has been purchased. The intention is to encourage an emotional response for each piece and for buyers to fall in love with the art itself, not the name behind it.

Himself a longtime supporter of Maggie’s, Max Fraser explains, “After a very personal, emotional journey as I supported my mother through her 6-year battle with cancer, I vowed to contribute in some way to mankind’s fight against this disease. Maggie’s recognises that building an atmosphere of calm and celebrating a good quality of life are immensely beneficial to patients, and I know that my mother would have benefited so positively from its services. Charity founder Maggie Keswick Jencks once said, “Above all what matters is not to lose the joy of living in the fear of dying,” and this statement has inspired the design challenge and Joy of Living project.”

All proceeds from the sale of the artworks will go to Maggie’s. This is the third fundraiser staged by Max Fraser for the charity and this time he is joined by collaborators Aynsley Munsie and Amy Bicknell with many other generous in-kind supporters.

You can buy tickets to the event here:
https://www.maggiescentres.org/how-you-can-help/take-part/all-events/joy-living-exhibition-maggies/

More information on how your money helps:
https://www.maggiescentres.org/how-you-can-help/how-your-money-helps/