LONDON.- Phillips de Pury & Company collaborates with Peace One Day in presenting ‘AKA Peace’, an exhibition of new works by some of the most celebrated names in Contemporary Art. The exhibition, originally conceived by photographer Bran Symondson and now curated by artist Jake Chapman, will take place 25 – 30 September 2012 at the ICA, London, and will be directly followed by an auction of the exhibited works held by Phillips de Pury & Company. The auction will be held at Phillips de Pury & Company, Howick Place, London SW1P 1BB on Thursday 4th October 2012.

Artists involved are: Charming Baker, Jake & Dinos Chapman, Mat Collishaw, Jeremy Deller, Nancy Fouts, Ryan Gander, Douglas Gordon, Antony Gormley, Damien Hirst, Gary Hume, Jim Lambie, Langlands & Bell, Sarah Lucas, Antony Micallef, Harland Miller, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Marc Quinn, Stuart Semple, Laila Shawa, Bran Symondson, Sam Taylor-Wood, Gavin Turk and Rebecca Warren.

Winner of the 2011 Amnesty International Media Award, photographer Bran Symondson had the idea for AKA Peace following his experience as a soldier in Afghanistan. The project, which coincides with Peace Day, Friday 21 September 2012, aims to raise awareness of Peace Day and raise funds for Peace One Day’s Global Truce 2013 campaign. It will see each of the artists’ reinterpretations of the AK-47 assault rifle.

Refashioning what has become a symbol of global violence on the broadest scale into artworks of intrigue and even beauty, the exhibition will highlight the wider message of Peace One Day and Peace Day itself.

Jake Chapman said, “I am not readily associated with a sense of philanthropic optimism, but after a meeting with Jeremy Gilley at Peace One Day, my pessimism was suspended in favour of supporting this audacious attempt to intervene against human injustice. We have therefore assembled a number of artists prepared to do what they can to collaborate against apathy.”

Simon de Pury, Chairman of Phillips de Pury and Company, said, “Phillips de Pury and Company are proud to be lending their support for Peace One Day. We fully share the concern of the highly talented and very generous group of artists that are participating in ‘AKA Peace’.”

Sam Taylor-Wood said, “In recent times His Holiness, the Dalai Lama has called for the cultivation of world love and compassion by eliminating selfishness and greed. As war is wholly based in selfishness and greed, I can think of no better way for us all to work Towards a Global Truce in uniting for a day of ceasefire observed unilaterally across the world. I hope that the AK 47 Art work project raises visibility and hope for this extraordinary cause.”

Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law said, "It's wonderful that so many important contemporary artists have come together to support Peace One Day. It's exciting to me that art, music and film play such an important role in helping Peace One Day to raise awareness of Peace Day; AKA Peace is a unique and fascinating project."

Jeremy Gilley said, “AKA Peace is a really profound project; turning a weapon of destruction into a weapon of peace is awesome. The benefits of awareness and finance to help Global Truce 2013 is a great outcome. I’m grateful to Bran for having a wonderful idea and it’s an honour to have Jake Chapman curate the project.”

Peace Day 2012 will be marked by the Peace One Day Concert, at Wembley Arena in London on the 21st September. Headlining the concert will be Elton John. James Morrison and 2Cellos have recently joined the line up. AKA Peace will also be showing at The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London from
25 – 30 September 2012