Wolfgang Tillmans, “still life (Bühnenbild)” (2020) (all images courtesy Between Bridges and the artists)
More than 40 renowned international artists, led by the German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans, are selling posters of their works for a mere $50 (or £50 if you’re in the UK, €50 if you’re in Europe) to support arts and music venues that have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
The 2020Solidarity fundraiser features posters by Tillmans and other acclaimed artists like Nicole Eisenman, Mark Leckey, Betty Tompkins, David Wojnarowicz, Anne Imhof, and Christopher Wool, to name a few.
“There are many places that may not get help or bailed out because they are informal places, in culture, nightlife and music,” Tillmans told Hyperallergic in a statement. “I feel an urgency to do something so they don’t have to close down permanently.”
Nicole Eisenman, “Never Forget Kissing in Bars” (2020)
The proceeds will go to night clubs, community projects, residencies, and independent spaces in New York, Berlin, and London. Supported organizations include Visual AIDS and Ballez in New York, Siegessäule and Renate in Berlin, and Hospital Rooms in London, among others (all venues are listed on the campaign’s website).
Tillmans is also in contact with organizations in other countries around the world to help facilitate similar fundraisers that would enlist the posters as donations.
“For me, places of social life are also places of cultural life and it would be terrible if we lost half the places that we loved going to,” the Turner Prize-winning artist said. “But we also want to support initiatives that are helping people in need locally within their communities, or that are raising funds for hospitals or health organizations.”
Marlene Dumas, “James Baldwin (from the series Great Men)” (2014)
Tillman’s own contribution to the project is a photograph titled “still life (Bühnenbild).” It was the last image he printed in his studio before shutting it down due to the pandemic on March 13.
Other posters include a portrait of James Baldwin by Marlene Dumas and a portrait of David Wojnarowicz made by the artist himself in collaboration with Tom Warren.
Heji Shin, “Basic Precinct” (2020)
Tillmans will fund the printing and shipping of the posters, which will come in unlimited editions.
“Lots of people want to do something but they don’t know how or where and it’s really just an action where I connect artists who I either know or feel comfortable approaching to just give one design each,” he said.
Jacolby Satterwhite, “Geometric Abstraction” (2019)
Betty Tompkins, “Sex Painting #4” (2013)
Sabelo Mlangeni, “‘Identity’ Bongani Tshabalala” (2011)
