The world’s largest canvas painting has sold for £45 million at auction in Dubai.
The ‘Journey of Humanity’ by British artist Sacha Jafri is split into 70 framed sections spanning 17,176 sq ft – equivalent to six tennis courts.
Andre Abdoune, a French national residing in the UAE, bought all 70 segments on Tuesday at an auction at the five-star Atlantis, The Palm hotel.
Organisers said in a statement that the work sold for $62 million, double the amount targeted, with the money going to charities helping children.
The ‘Journey of Humanity’ is split into 70 framed sections spanning 17,176 sq ft – equivalent to six tennis courts. Andre Abdoune, a French national residing in Dubai – one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE – bought all 70 segments on Tuesday at an auction in Dubai’s five-star hotel, Atlantis, The Palm.
Contemporary British artist Sacha Jafri gestures as he stands on his record-breaking painting entitled ‘The Journey of Humanity’, in the Emirati city of Dubai. Andre Abdoune, a French national residing in Dubai – one of the seven emirates that make up the UAE – bought all 70 segments on Tuesday at an auction in Dubai’s five-star hotel, Atlantis, The Palm.
Jafri poses on his colossal canvas after finishing the work in September. The 44-year-old contemporary artist hopes his Guinness World Record-holding painting, which spanned 17,176 sq ft of the ballroom at Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm hotel, will spark a humanitarian movement
A visitor stares at fragments of Dubai-based British contemporary artist Sacha Jafri’s painting entitled ‘The Journey of Humanity’, in the Emirati city of Dubai, in February
The work, confirmed by the Guinness World Records as the ‘Largest Art Canvas’, had been put on display in the ballroom of the opulent hotel, and was originally meant to be sold in segments.
‘I come from a poor family, and I knew at times how it feels to have nothing to eat, but at least I had the love of my parents, schooling, and support,’ Abdoune, who runs a crypto-currency business, told AFP.
‘The painting was very powerful when I saw it, and, for me, it would have been a mistake to separate the pieces,’ said the former stock trader.
Abdoune also highlighted the coronavirus pandemic, noting how it had taken a toll on children around the world.
‘We have to react, so if I can bring my little piece in the puzzle, I’m happy,’ he said.
The huge painting as broken up into 70 segments and has been exhibited inside the ballroom of the Palm hotel in Dubai
Children from 140 countries submitted artwork online to be included in Jafri’s creation, which was completed at the end of September
Organisers said in a statement that the work sold for $62 million, double the amount targeted, with the money going to charities helping children (pictured: British artist Sacha Jafri stares at fragments of his painting)
A visitor stares at fragments of Dubai-based British contemporary British artist Sacha Jafri’s painting entitled ‘The Journey of Humanity’
A fragment of the huge painting, with the artist Jafri standing in the foreground
Dubai-based British contemporary British artist Sacha Jafri walks in front of fragments of his painting entitled ‘The Journey of Humanity’, in the Emirati city of Dubai, on February 25, 2021
People visit an exhibition showing fragments of Dubai-based British contemporary artist Sacha Jafri’s painting entitled ‘The Journey of Humanity’, in the Emirati city of Dubai, on February 25, 2021
Dubai-based British contemporary British artist Sacha Jafri stares at fragments of his painting entitled ‘The Journey of Humanity’, in the Emirati city of Dubai. Jafri had aimed to raise $30 million to fund health, sanitation and education initiatives for children in impoverished parts of the world.
Jafri had aimed to raise $30 million to fund health, sanitation and education initiatives for children in impoverished parts of the world.
The 44-year-old contemporary artist is hoping his painting will spark a humanitarian movement.
Children from 140 countries submitted artwork online to be included in Jafri’s creation, which was completed at the end of September.