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Emin and fashionistas rally to help knife victim Hemsley
Georgina Littlejohn05.05.09
Some of the biggest names from the world of art and fashion have donated works to raise money for a student paralysed in a stabbing.
Tracey Emin, Vivienne Westwood and Giles Deacon are among those backing the Art Against Knives campaign to support 21-year-old Oliver Hemsley.
The promising fashion designer, who was about to start a fashion print degree at Central St Martin's School of Art, was stabbed eight times in the unprovoked attack by a gang of youths in Shoreditch on 28 August last year.
His spinal cord was partially severed, leaving him paralysed from the neck down. He will need constant medical attention for the rest of his life.
Nazrul Islam, 16, of Upton Park was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent at the Old Bailey last month and was sentenced to 10 years in a young offender institution.
Now one of Oliver's friends, Katy Dawe, has launched Art Against Knives to raise the money for the care he needs and personally contacted artists and fashion designers in the hope that they would contribute something towards an exhibition for the campaign.
Ms Dawe 21, a textiles student at Central St Martin's, said: "I hope to raise money for everything that Oli will need in the future, but more importantly to generate awareness about knife crime."
Friends said Oliver, from Sutton, had been tipped to become as successful as fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
Dame Vivienne has donated an item of clothing from her archived collections while photographer Rankin has taken a special photo for the exhibition which symbolises knife crime.
Tracey Emin, who is donating a print and a drawing, said: "It's so sad and appalling what happened to Oliver.
"A young designer with his whole life ahead of him stabbed in the spine and for what? Absolutely nothing."
The exhibition takes place in the Shoreditch Town Hall gallery today and is open to the public for a free viewing from midday until 7pm. After that, the gallery will close and a private celebrity auction of exhibits will take place with all the money raised going towards Oliver's care.
As well as this event, Oliver's brother William is organising Ride2recovery, a cycling challenge across Europe to raise money for the artist.
Reader views (2)
Dont get me wrong white youths or adults can do wrong as well. But it always seems to be youths or people from different backgrounds who start trouble for no reason. Why do you think the police are more likely to stop and search a black or brown person more so then any other person who is white. Due to 28 youths losing their lives to knife and gun crime last year across the capital and at least 6 people being stabbed or shot this year it is about time people finally realise that carrying a blade is only going make you do something bad with it therefore stop carrying it around and stop taking needless lives away..... Carrying a knife has got to be the most cowardly act you could ever do. I really do hope people start to listen and stop carrying knives. Being armed with a knife doesnt make you are super-hero it makes you a coward for not managing to stand up to fist against fist if their is a fight.
- Seb Frank, bromley
I absolutely admire your mates for contributing money for you being paralysed from the neck down. You did not deserve it as it was a totally unprovoked attack. Why do immigrants/people always have to start trouble when its not neccessary. I think it was a racial attack because you being white and the others obviously being from Pakistan or Bangladesh, wanted to end your life completely. How can one be stabbed 8 times and only get a minimum sentence of 10 years in a young offenders institution. I think our government and law is an utter joke. I think how ever old one is,one should be put away and never let out again. I think England is getting bad one can get done in for anything these days whether you have done some wrong or not. Thank god your still alieve and kicking even though you are paralysed. I also feel sorry for you having to sit in a wheelchair now obviously which is obviously no fun but its better to have that then being dead. I admire you and your friends for standing strong. I do not admire people who are cowards people who have to feel as if they are hard and have to prove something when they are absolutely a nobody.
- Seb Frank, bromley
