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Auction at Christie’s New York November 9^th

of Important Works Donated by

Noted Contemporary Artists Will Fund Continuing Relief Effort

Zeng Fanzhi, Mark Grotjahn, Damien Hirst, Thomas Houseago, KAWS, Jeff Koons, Friedrich Kunath, Mr., Takashi Murakami, Yoshitomo Nara, Gabriel Orozco, Anselm Reyle, Cindy Sherman, Aya Takano, Luc Tuymans.

New York – Christie’s is proud to join with Takashi Murakami and Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. to provide support for the victims of the March 11, 2011 Tohoku-Pacific earthquake in Japan by dedicating a special section of a forthcoming New York auction to the continuing relief effort. The special auction section is expected to reach $5 million. Proceeds from the sale, including works made by some of the biggest names in contemporary art selected personally by Murakami, will be contributed to The Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Global Giving and International Medical Corps, providing relief to the survivors of the catastrophe, the effects of which continue to be devastating.

Takashi Murakami comments: "The damage which resulted from the recent earthquake was great and yet, there are other disasters occurring somewhere in the world every day. If we do not address the root causes of the chaos which arises from these disasters, both natural and man-made, then our problems will continue  reoccurring and their severity will only grow worse, eating further away at the heart and mind. It is with the goal of engaging people in a shared understanding of this catastrophic state of affairs that I hold this event; if an art auction can serve as the impetus for such understanding, then I am hopeful that we can make our present hardship worthwhile. I want to thank Mr. Francois Pinault, who supported the idea from the beginning, and Christie’s for making this event happen.” 

Amy Cappellazzo, Chairman, Post-War and Contemporary Development at Christie’s declared "Christie's is thrilled, happy and proud to be part of this amazing philanthropic venture for such an important charitable event with Takashi Murakami. The quality of works of art highlights the generosity of the many artists who donated pieces. Charity is an important component of our work at Christie's, but also in the contemporary art community as a whole. We are honored to help lift the lives and spirits of those in Japan after the tragedies that happened a few months ago by hosting such a top quality sale."

We are also proud to announce a special     appearance by Oscar-nominated actor Ken Watanabe on the day of the auction. Mr. Watanabe will open the sale with a reading of a Japanese poem, selected especially for the occasion. Mr. Watanabe's appearance comes with the cooperation of the Japanese website and initiative Kizuna311, which was launched after the disasters to offer moral and emotional support to those affected.

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Related Departments Post-War & Contemporary Art