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Artist's £1 million giveaway
Kiran Randhawa14.11.08
ONE thousand artworks worth an estimated £1million will be scattered across the streets of London tonight for the public to take free.
In one of the biggest street art exhibitions the capital has seen, Adam Neate will distribute the paintings from 8pm across all 33 local authorities.
The 31-year-old artist said the A3 size works will be left at landmarks as well as in "nooks and crannies" and he does not expect them to be found until tomorrow morning.
Neate, from West Ham, has been involved in similar projects before. "In the past I've given away around 1,000 of my paintings each year so 1,000 on one night is a big task," he said. "This has always been a dream of mine to do an exhibition across London."
Neate will join a team of 20 in distributing the autographed printed works, which all feature the same image but have a different combination of printing and stamping.
In recent years his work has featured in Elms Lesters Painting Rooms in the West End where his pieces have fetched up to £43,000 each.
But his roots lie in creating paintings and sculptures designed for towns and cities. Neate said: "I first began giving away my artwork when I lived in Ipswich eight years ago. I painted quite a lot and had so many in my flat I just decided to put them out on the street for people to take.
"When I moved to London, I did the same thing on a bigger scale. It's like a surreal gallery."
The former internet designer, who now paints full-time, added: "Art should be a gift, free and fun for people to enjoy. That's what this project aims to achieve. I hope people take them home, but whatever they want to do with the works is their own business."
Neate's street art pieces are selling at auctions for between £2,000 and £15,000. His paintings use recycled cardboard boxes as canvases and have been acclaimed for their complex layering and bold use of paint.
Reader views (6)
I don't know why people are so goddam cynical. I was truly delighted to find one tucked in a corner in Dulwich Village this lunchtime; it's a gift; it's a bit of fun, something out of the ordinary - why worry about what it's worth? If you don't like it, don't pick it up -leave it for someone who will appreciate this artists' work.
- Tamara, London
one million in his egotistical eyes.
- Ruckus, Myrtle Beach USA
Awsome, I found one last night. Is actually a very interest piece of art, if it is worth 1k then I will be letting it go. It will be a welcome boost in this credit crunch!
- Stephen Wade, Croydon
I think this is incredibly generous and truly defines the term "public art". Thank you for trying to bring art into more people's lives.
- Gemma, London
I really dont understand the estimated value of £1,000,000. This puts the images worth £1k each right? His limited edition prints dont sell for more than that so how is an edition of 1000 in which he did not take part in the process and arent even signed by him supposed to be worth £1K? More like £100 TOPS! A sly bit of PR though no doubt!
- Moi, London
From the sounds of it, finding any art in the actual art will be a darn sight harder than locating the pieces, given the obvious need for gimmicry. Generosity is good. To command prices of up £43,000 even better. But joining the ludicrous bandwagon upon whose clanging wheels and axis most of the art seems to be crashing is like a tragic car crash.
- Badenoch, Greenwich, London
