The Zebra One Gallery has assembled 30 of their most celebrated artists to curate We’re All in This Together, a free, virtual exhibition, with all proceeds going to NHS Charities Together.
The gallery has closed its doors for the first time in 42 years during the coronavirus crisis, but its owner, Gabrielle Du Ploy, is determined to use art as a tool to raise funds to supports NHS staff and volunteers caring for COVID-19 patients, as well as providing a welcome distraction to those on lockdown, via virtual exhibitions, workshops and tutorials from her roster of artists.
The online exhibition can be found at www.zebraoneshop.com and features extraordinary works by artists including Hayden Kays, Rebecca Fontaine-Wolf, Dom Pattinson, Mason Storm, Rosso, Lucie Flynn, David Studwell, Nigel Stefani, Stuart McAlpine, Rich Simmons, Niki Hare, DS, Lee Du Ploy, Magnus Gjoen, Joshua Benmore, James Green, Joseph Loughborough, David Scheinman, Harvey B Brown, Carne Griffiths, Alexandra Gallagher, Jonathan Lawnes, Olly Howe, Michael Olson, as well as pieces by late art greats Marc Chagall and Joan Miro.
Ms Du Ploy, said: “I can’t sit here and watch this crisis unfold, without doing anything.
“So I have rounded up some of our greatest artists to help raise funds for NHS Charities Together, who are working with NHS England and their member NHS Charities on a nationally co-ordinated response to the COVID-19 crisis.”
The pieces include a stunning silkscreen and pigment ink on cotton artwork depicting a skull, flowers and broken glass, entitled Roses are Dead by Magnus Gjoen, who said: “We look to religion and art in times of despair and difficulty.
“Taking comfort in beauty or faith. Finding a glimpse of hope and happiness in something we can connect with. Without hope, wars cannot be won.”
Hayden Kays has donated a print of one of his pieces currently hanging on Harry Styles’ wall. It’s called Sending a Little Love and is the perfect antidote to these times. He said: “The NHS saw me into the world.
“They’ve helped me countless times along the way and I hope they’ll see me out OK.
“My thoughts are with everyone who is affected by this, so ‘I’m Sending a Little Love’.”
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Joshua Benmore has contributed his comforting piece, A Message From the Future, which reads “WE’RE GOING TO BE OK.” He said: “The piece aims to give hope that however bad things may currently seem, your future self will get through and find resolution.”
Michael Olson has donated his piece “I” which stands for both isolation and inspiration and is adorned with butterflies, a symbol of rebirth, hope and new life.
He added: “‘It’s also the first letter in the word, ‘Inspiring,’ which describes exactly the selfless contribution NHS workers make.”
Rebecca Fontaine-Wolf has provided a powerful painting of a woman’s face, called Charred.
She explained: “Charred’ refers to the idea that something new can be born from the charred ground after a fire. It’s about the potential for renewal and hope after devastation, like the one the NHS are currently dealing with.”
Dom Pattinson has donated a moving piece, entitled, It’s in Your Hands Now, and he explained: “It reflects the need to go back to basics, to consider what’s essential and what’s not.
“The future lies in the hands of our children and it’s only through our guidance that we can leave a world worth having.”
Rich Simmons has provided his Freedom of Speech, gold foil print from an edition of 25, which rather poignantly, for today’s times, shows a woman with a designer mask covering her mouth.
He said: “I hope this benefits the NHS in some small way, they are the true heroes of society while we are in lockdown.
“They are risking their lives, sanity, health and happiness to help those at risk and that makes them superheroes.”
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