Lorna Tiller in Conversation with Solidarty Directors Alexis Sarfati & Ferdinand Blaising

MADE IN BED’s Editor-in-Chief, Lorna Tiller, gets together with Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s Alexis Sarfati, MA Contemporary Art, and Ferdinand Blaising, MA Art Business, to discuss their role as directors of Solidarty in time for their upcoming event in July.

Can you tell us a bit about SolidArty?

SolidArty is Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s student charity auction, created to raise money for Doctors Without Borders’ Covid 19 Emergency Fund. The online auction will take place from July 6-13 on Invaluable, the world’s leading online market place for fine art. It will feature works of contemporary art by 39 emerging and established artists. In short, SolidArty’s mission is twofold. It is a project leveraging art to help lead the fight against Covid 19 on the ground, and a platform designed to showcase the work of a new generation of international talents and increase their visibility, when showing works physically has become challenging under lockdowns.

SolidArty is curated as a dialogue between MFA students currently graduating from leading London art schools and more established artists. This conversation introduces pioneering voices to market, giving them gravitas. The goal is to present fresh-to-market works, with a curatorial approach spanning a variety of mediums and cultural backgrounds.

Why did you choose to get involved with the project and why do you think it is important?

The project came about at the height of the Covid 19 crisis, when it seemed all we could do was sit at home and watch the world come undone. I saw this moment as an opportunity to step forward, contribute to the Covid 19 crisis relief and use what I had learned at SIA and my network. I quickly got Ferdinand involved and together we created SolidArty.

I believe it is important for two reasons. First it is crucial to sustain our contribution to fighting the pandemic on the ground. As European countries start to open and slowly get back to a sense of normality, it is important to remember that the situation is still critical around the world, including in countries in dire need of international assistance, from Yemen to Bangladesh. Doctors Without Borders is doing an incredible job in supporting vulnerable communities and they need our help to finance their efforts.

On another level, the pandemic has made it more complicated for artists at home to sustain their practice and get visibility. I trust SolidArty can be a platform to introduce many talented voices to market, featured amongst more established works. For collectors, this represents both an opportunity to invest in the future of contemporary art and bring critically needed funds to help fight the pandemic around the world.

For those who may not know, what is a charity auction?

A charity auction is one in which 100% of proceeds go to a selected charity, in our case, Doctors Without Borders. There is no buyer’s premium, the usual fee the auction house charges for its services. In other words, we are working for free to make this project come to life.

Can you tell us about the selection process?

We sent out a call for donations a few months back to ask artists to donate a work to be auctioned by SolidArty. We reached out to some of the graduating class of leading London art schools such as Saint Martins, the Royal Academy or Chelsea College of art, universities from which some of the world’s leading artists have come from. These artists usually exhibit the fruition of their yearlong MFA production during an end of degree show, which will unfortunately not be happening physically this year. In parallel, we also extended this call for donations to more established artists and galleries across Europe. We were thrilled with the turnout, having received under 100 works.

With the support of our esteemed jury, comprised of two brilliant curators, Amira Gad, previously of the Serpentine Galleries and Emily Butler of the Whitechapel gallery, we have selected 39 astounding voices we are very proud to represent. Our curators considered the quality of the works, while keeping an eye to ease of shipment as we want to minimise shipping costs. Amira and Emily have helped us put together a truly international sale with 19 nationalities represented. This auction is therefore a celebration of the artists’ generosity. As the foundation of SolidArty, we are truly thankful for their support to the Covid 19 relief. In the words of Emily Butler, “their participation and also that of auction supporters are an important gesture of global solidarity”.

Why did you decide to support Doctors Without Borders? Where will the proceeds go?

As an internationally-facing initiative, all SolidArty’s profits will go to Doctors Without Borders Medecins Sans Frontières, an organisation well equipped to fight disease outbreaks. MSF is an independent organisation, government funding isn’t relied on, which allows them to act quickly and go where the need is greatest.

Proceeds will contribute towards providing urgently needed medical care and supplies to save the lives of people affected by Covid 19. As the pandemic continues to impact communities worldwide, the independent emergency medical organisation is pooling its fifty years of experience to send medical teams and supplies on the ground, help the most vulnerable and protect healthcare staff.

Anything additional to share with our audience?

We are counting on you to take part in SolidArty and spread the word about our charity initiative! We are calling on your collective sense of responsibility and are hoping for collectors to rise to the occasion, donating to Doctors Without Borders through the acquisition of emerging contemporary works!

Important dates?

The auction is held online from 3rd to 17th July, with a week-long preview during which collectors will be able to register on Invaluable before bidding starts on 10th July.

Thank you Alexis Sarfati and Ferdinand Blaising.