"THE BIG PICTURE " Vivienne’s Playing Cards. Collect the cards, Connect the cards.
The story began for me when I was contacted by fashion designer, Jeff Banks in November 2022 with an unusual proposal that immediately caught my attention and began the process of honoring the late, great fashion designer, Vivienne Westwood and her intensely personal artwork.
Jeff related the sad news that Vivienne was seriously ill in hospital at this time and that she had asked him to instigate a project to sell her playing card artwork posthumously to help raise funds for Greenpeace and other activist causes that she passionately supported.
Time was urgent and decisions had to be made quickly about how to proceed and it seemed logical to realise Vivienne’s extraordinary artworks through the digital print medium.
700 hundred sheets of Hahnemule paper were purchased and taken in small batches to Vivienne’s hospital room where she signed each sheet from her bed. 150 sheets were signed before sadly, she passed away and revised decisions were then made about how we might continue the project to honour her creative and typically determined spirit.
The result was to make 10 Deluxe Edition portfolios consisting of 10 cards that Vivienne specifically selected from her 52 designs. Accompanying text sheets describe and articulate her personal philosophy and powerful reflections that underpin each artwork. The texts are directly transcribed from her conversations about her Four Pillars of Change;
Halting Climate change.
Stopping War.
Defending Human Rights.
Protest Capitalism.
These issues facing society drove her activism - deeply held values articulated with clarity, and wisdom. Specific emphasis concerned the increasingly pressing subjects of climate change, wealth distribution, neo-liberalism, freedom of speech, governmental corruption, ending wars and Ecocide. All big, urgent subjects that propel her lucid narrative while coupled to the varied and compelling imagery she had made and developed over many years. The result is a visual distillation of her philosophy and heart-felt beliefs and through these artworks, we are presented with the questions, choices, and changes we must address right now if there is to be any hope of a meaningful future.
The first portfolio, which will be part of a unique live auction at Christie’s in London on the 25th June. Christie’s have generously helped steer the project and have also waved their sales commission thus ensuring that the causes that Vivienne loved will be promoted and supported with all the proceeds of the auction sale.
In addition to the sale of the portfolio there will also be an extraordinary sale of Vivienne’s personal couture collection featuring many of the iconic garments that she wore. All proceeds raised from this sale will be given to support Greenpeace
Portfolio no1 ( I/X) features Dame Vivienne Westwood’s Monstrance insignia, hand-embroidered in semi-metallic threads by Hand & Lock, London, and accompanied by a one-of-a-kind metal display stand by artist Joe Rush, London.
Digital printing by Red Breast Editions. Litho printing by Red Breast Editions.
The Solander box and protective sleeves for the portfolio cases were made by my good friend and colleague, Sharon Lee.
THE BIG PICTURE
Vivienne’s Playing Cards
Collect the cards. Connect the cards
By Dame Vivienne Westwood was published on 22 April 2024, Earth Day, and is
being auctioned and sold for the benefit of The Vivienne Foundation for Greenpeace.
