(ANSAmed) – NAPLES, 27 APR – Nearly ten million dollars were
raised at an auction held in Dubai with the goal of guaranteeing
100 million meals, according to UAE daily The National.
It said rare artworks by Nelson Mandela, Pablo Picasso, Salvador
Dali, Henri Matisse, Joan Miró and David Hockney were up for
bidding, as well as works by contemporary artist Sacha Jafri.
The funds will be used for food aid to poor people in about 30
countries worldwide in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, during
the holy month of Ramadan.
Among the works that attracted the highest bids was a rare piece
of Kiswa, a black silk brocade fabric embroidered in gold and
silver reproducing verses from the Quran, which was used at
Mecca and was donated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, vice
president of Dubai.
The cloth sold for 2.7 million dollars to an anonymous phone
bidder.
A colourful canvas by British artist Sacha Jafri sold for 4.2
million dollars, a regular amount for the artist who last month
sold a painting for the record sum of 62 million dollars.
Hollywood star Will Smith was expected to attend but sent a
video message apologising for his absence, which was due to an
unexpected illness brought on by extreme dieting for an acting
role.
Many wealthy Dubai residents were in attendance at the auction,
as well as Florian Picasso, a great-grandson of Pablo Picasso.
(ANSAmed).
