Artists for Women for Women International 2011
Nadja Romain and Jenny Saville invite internationally renowned contemporary artists to support Women for Women International
“In the nineteenth century, the central moral challenge was slavery. In the twentieth century, it was the battle against totalitarianism... in this century the paramount moral challenge will be the struggle for gender equality in the developing world.” —Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Acclaimed contemporary artists from around the world have been invited by producer Nadja Romain and artist Jenny Saville to support the vision behind Women for Women International. On 15th October, Christie’s will auction each artist’s exclusively commissioned artwork for the launch of Artists for Women for Women International, in their Post War and Contemporary Day Sale during Frieze Art Fair.
Artists for Women for Women International brings together an impressive group of people dedicated to the groundbreaking work and message of Women for Women International and aims to raise awareness of social issues within the art world. Artists include Matthew Barney, Cecily Brown, Chuck Close, Tacita Dean, Tracey Emin, Teresita Fernandez, Anthony Gormley, Carsten Holler, Isaac Julien, Andrei Molodkin, Farhad Moshiri, Marcel Odenbach, Elizabeth Peyton, Tobias Rehberger, Bridget Riley, Jenny Saville, Richard Serra, Taryn Simon, Michael Craig-Martin, Rosemarie Trockel, Francesco Vezzoli and a piece by Louise Nevelson, donated by Arne Glimcher.
Nadja Romain’s relationship with Women for Women International started in 2010 when, together with Jose Martos, she produced a limited edition version of the UK magazine TANK in support of the organisation. Artists including Elizabeth Peyton, Lawrence Weiner, Isaac Julien, Michael Craig-Martin, Tracey Emin and Jenny Saville all generously contributed to this edition and the £250,000 raised helped support over 800 women in the Women for Women International sponsorship programme.
Romain and Saville each realised the power and immense support they had to bring hope and change to the lives not only of the women, but their families and communities as well. After a chance meeting between Romain, Saville and Zainab Salbi (Founder of Women for Women International) they decided to join forces once again and launch this incredible project.
“If you think about Afghanistan, Congo, or South Sudan – these are countries in turmoil. We won’t achieve the sustainable peace we’re seeking if women don’t have access to basic human rights like health care, food and education. As I’m speaking, they don’t: so how can they help their community to rebuild? The work of Women for Women International is crucial, and under the impetus of Zainab Salbi the organisation has become a key player in women rights and the struggle for peace. I have found it incredibly empowering to realise that by using my professional and personal skills to do a project like this one, I can have an impact on thousands of lives. It’s inspirational. So is sponsoring a woman in the Women for Women programme; it connects you with someone on the other side of the world; and you find strangely that it’s helping you in return.” —Nadja Romain
Gagosian Gallery will exhibit the works at its Britannia Street space, from 27th September to 1st October.
For more press information and images please contact Julia Huff at Purple PR: julia@purplepr.com / 020 7434 7082
