Christian Guémy, also known as C215, is French artist based ...

Hammer

£700

Christian Guémy, also known as C215, is French artist based in Paris who has been described as ‘France’s answer to Banksy’. His art work can be found in towns and cities all over the world, and he has recently focused on the streets of Ukraine. Christian has become well known for sharing his solidarity with the Ukrainian community and has dedicated much of his recent art work to those devastatingly impacted by the war. The donation from C215 is a painting on homemade embossed paper of a young girl wearing a floral crown which is a symbol of Ukrainian folklore. This painting in particular has become one of C215’s most iconic originals and has since been turned into a fresco on the outside of several buildings, shattered bus stops, and burnt out vehicle. One of the murals includes a quote from the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, who said in his inaugural address when he was elected in 2019: “I really do not want my pictures in your offices, for the President is not an icon, an idol or a portrait. Hang your kids’ photos instead, and look at them each time you are making a decision.” This piece of art is also the image on the official stamp of the Council of Europe titled ‘Unis pour l’Ukraine’ (United for Ukraine). Christian has also donated a copy of his book ‘Війна в Україні’ (War in Ukraine) which shows the artwork he has produced throughout Ukraine where he has added beauty to its destroyed areas.