The Blank Canvas Project
June 24th, 2009 by sparky
Inspired by seeing the spectacle of dozens of tents given to the homeless and placed along the Canal Saint Martin in Paris, artist Cedric Christie decided to create a charity project that would echo this gesture. The tents in Paris had been donated by and set up by filmmaker Jean Luc Godard’s group, ‘Children of Don Quixote’ as a means of highlighting the plight of the homeless. They gained wide attention across Europe, and succeeded in placing the issue of homelessness at the top of France’s political agenda just prior to its presidential election.
Christie sees the tents as powerful symbols, particularly in view of the current economic climate; the idea behind The Blank Canvas Project is to create and exhibit an art installation comprising a group of pup tents, each of which will have been turned into an artwork, and each of which will later be auctioned in aid of charity. The forming of this unique installation will serve to symbolise an encampment of sorts, and the profits from auction will be divided equally between The Big Issue Foundation, Amnesty International and a designated charity of each artists’ choice.
The installation will initially be displayed at The Big Chill Festival 2009, with plans to exhibit at a series of other events (TBC), and auctioned later in the year. Whilst playful and in keeping with the spirit of the festival, the visual expression of these tents en mass will also, undoubtedly, be a powerful statement referencing homelessness and displacement around the world.
A pup tent
Christie’s own art practice explores a broad range of cultural and art historical references, often using humour and irony as subtle vehicles of communication, and as a Big Chill festival goer himself, he felt this would be an ideal platform in which to launch the Blank Canvas Project. The festival’s connection with The Big Issue and Amnesty International this year, along with its firmly established commitment to celebrating creativity in all its forms, presents an exceptional opportunity for Christie to integrate Art with an important cause.
The artworks themselves will serve as beacons of creativity and inspiration, each becoming a subtle yet powerful voice. As such, their collective presence becomes a symbol of hope, referencing encampments around the world.
Whispers can move an army…
Artists involved in the Blank Canvas Project
Sir Peter Blake
Neville Brody
Cedric Christie
Steve Claydon
Keith Coventry
Lindy Hemming & Bob Starrett
Sarah Lucas
Tom Ormond
Boo Ritson
Gavin Turk
Vivienne Westwood
Rachel Whiteread
And more to come…
