LONDON.- Blue Marine, a charity dedicated to protecting the ocean and tackling overfishing, one of the world’s biggest environmental problems, has partnered with Christie’s on Blue: Art for the Ocean, a philanthropic initiative taking place during the auction house’s 20th/21st Century Art Marquee Week sales in October 2024, coinciding with Frieze Art Fair in London.

More than 20 world leading artists are donating works to be auctioned within Christie’s 20th/21st Century Art sales to benefit Blue Marine’s projects around the world. Blue Marine’s mission is to combat overfishing, in order to help life in the ocean perform its vital function of stabilising the Earth’s climate. Our oceans are in danger, and a triple threat of biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and climate change threaten the health of the ocean, on which all life on earth depends. With 8 per cent of the world’s oceans secured across the world, Blue Marine is committed to supporting the UN’s Global Framework goal of “30x30” - protecting 30 percent of the world’s oceans by 2030.

Performance for the Oceans by Marina Abramović

One of the highlights of the Blue: Art for the Oceans initiative is a photograph (the first of an edition of three, plus two artist's proofs) captured during a unique performance by Marina Abramović in May 2024. Filmed on Fire Island in New York, Performance for the Oceans (2024) is the result of a collaboration between the Serbian conceptual and performance artist and Blue Marine. The work depicts Abramović giving her unconditional love and energy to our oceans, stressing the urgent need for their preservation.

"My Performance for the Oceans artwork for Blue: Art for the Ocean blends my artistic vision with environmental consciousness. Approximately 70 percent of our planet is covered in water, yet our oceans are not being looked after properly. I stood on Fire Island in a red dress to give my unconditional love and energy to the ocean,” states Marina Abramović.“We are all responsible for the ocean, and as a human collective we have more consciousness and energy that we can give to the environment.”

Other internationally renowned artists involved in this initiative include Yoshitomo Nara, Edmund de Waal, Lydia Blakeley, and Jonas Burgert, among others.

Blue: Art for the Ocean highlights Christie’s ongoing efforts to leverage its influence in the art market for promoting sustainability and driving positive change. Recognising the urgent need for climate action, Christie’s set ambitious goals to become a more sustainable business, becoming the first major auction house to do so, and this initiative further emphasises this commitment.

Clare Brook, CEO, Blue Marine Foundation: “We are thrilled to present these wonderful works of art, donated so generously by leading artists from around the world. We are so grateful to all the artists and to Christie’s for joining with Blue Marine to raise awareness and generate funds to support the critical work of ocean conservation. By protecting the ocean, we are protecting our biggest climate ally. With your support, we can make a profound difference to returning the ocean to health."

Katharine Arnold, Vice Chairman, 20th/21st Century Art and Head of Post-War and Contemporary Art, Europe at Christie’s: “We are honoured to partner with Blue Marine Foundation in their crucial efforts to protect the oceans and their essential role in our planet's ecosystem. Marina Abramović’s performance highlights the collective effort and shared responsibility needed to preserve our climate, and we are proud to present this alongside other exciting works to benefit this important cause. At Christie’s, we are dedicated to continuously inspiring systemic change across the art market, actively working to build a more sustainable future and creating positive impact with our partnerships. We look forward to hosting this initiative in our 20th/21st Century Art October Frieze Week sale season, as we celebrate the creativity of this key international convening moment in the capital.”

An exhibition of the works included in Blue: Art for the Ocean will be presented at Christie’s galleries in London to coincide with its 20th/21st Century Art view in October.