Artist Idris Khan said it was the images of families being forced to flee their homes in Ukraine that made him decide “immediately, straight away” to make an artwork in response to the conflict.
Khan created the work I Thought We Had More Time..., which will be sold in a timed edition as part of the Evening Standard’s Ukraine appeal, in “one of those moments of coming into studio, grabbing things in front of you and seeing what you can make”.
The artist told the Standard: “My first thought was about not having any time. One day everything’s okay, and then suddenly you’ve got two hours to leave everything behind and get out of your house or flat, wherever you are, and make a decision about what you take. I’ve got two kids as well, and that vision of just grabbing them and having to flee and leave everything behind while you watch your home be destroyed — that was a complete shock. Your emotions are: what can you do? How can you help?”
The artwork is being sold as a collaboration between Khan, the Evening Standard and Migrate Art, an organisation that works with artists to raise funds for refugees, with all profits going to the Disasters Emergency Committee. It features the colours of the Ukrainian flag, which are watercoloured over collaged music paper.
Khan, who was made an OBE for services to art in 2017, has recently started working more with colour having previously focused largely on black and white. He said that the Ukrainian flag was one of the first things he responded to, and that it has “almost become the symbol of the free world for a lot of people, and a symbol of hope and defiance. It’s really strong — two bold, strong colours, blue and yellow.” Art “can rally” us during times of conflict, he said.
“I think in a time of war, art can do a lot. You can see at the moment, a lot of artists are trying to respond in the best way that they can, whether it’s making a print, or in fact going to Ukraine and doing something there.
“I think it’s about focusing people’s attention somehow, and I think art can do that. And even if it’s a little bit of a rest as well, somehow, you know — can you make something beautiful, where someone has to stop and look at it for a while and forget about all the s*** they’re going through?”
He didn’t originally intend to put the artwork up for sale, but was encouraged to do so when it generated a strong reaction after he posted it to his Instagram account. Khan said that he hopes that teaming up with the Evening Standard will allow it to reach as many people as possible. “It’s become about how many people can see this thing, and how much money can we make, hopefully very quickly. So let’s do this.”
The Evening Standard Ukraine Appeal has raised over £100,000 in funds for the Disasters Emergency Committee, which co-ordinates humanitarian aid across 12 member charities. According to the United Nations, it is estimated that more than three million people have been made refugees since the war began.
I Thought We Had More Time... will be available for £300 from Migrate Art’s website for the next 10 days, beginning from today. All profits will go to the Evening Standard’s Ukraine Appeal. For more information visit: migrateart.com/products/idriskhan
