Saturday@Phillips Presents: Tastemaker Mark Waddington

23 February 2009

Saturday@Phillips Auction

Auction: Saturday, March 14, 2009 Noon
Phillips de Pury & Company
Howick Place London SW1P 1BB

Mark Waddington

Well let's just say that when Mark Waddington has his heart set on something he goes after it. And if that thing is social justice and the protection of children then count on him to make it happen. In 2004 he joined War Child as Chief Executive and soon developed the organization into one of the most active players in charity. Today, CEO Mark oversees operations in all parts of the world from Congo, to Iraq getting local communities and aid to the people who are the most affected by the atrocities of war: children. Under Mark's management, War Child is the first organization to have successfully separated
children from adults in prisons in Afghanistan, and to have pioneered new ways of reintegrating ex-child soldiers with their families in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last year, War Child won (out of 330 competing organizations) the UN Grand Award for its campaigning work. So what do super heroes do on their time off? Saturday@Phillips can reveal the answer: they hang out with their wife Romance (possibly the coolest name ever), play with their children, watch rugby or go running. You didn't hear it from us.

Lot 7 OLIVER MOURGUE ‘Djinn’ sofa and pair of chairs
The deep red and the shape of the chairs is striking. They stand out and challenge. It’s exactly what we’re trying to achieve with War Child’s brand. They look great and are a perfect fit with our logo!

Lot 18 KIKI LAMERS Untitled
The character of this boy comes through the way in which his face has been captured. Cheeky, mischievous, full of life and energy. Amazing. Despite the experiences of many of the children we work with, they remain resilient and full of humour. This picture reminds me of their heroism.

Lot 133 THOMAS RUFF Sternenhimmel
If ever there was an image that could strip boundaries and limitations away this is it. It gives hope for the possibility of change, which is a value War Child holds dear in working in locations where hope is sometimes in short supply.

Lot 170 HERAKUT You Sure?
This piece is beautiful. It is my favourite, for personal reasons, because it reminds me of the woman in my life. My wife. The fact it’s raising vital funds for War Child makes it even more special.

Lot 180 SEEN Untitled
I grew up in the Peak District and we’d go to Sheffield regularly for shopping or the cinema. I was actually born there and this piece reminds me of some the best of the graffiti we used to see on bridges in Sheffield. It feels old school but leaps out at you with life and vibrancy. It’s bold and full-on with saturated colour. I like the anti-establishment suggestion. In yer face!

Lot 183 BANKSY Jack and Jill
The contrast between the innocence of children at play and the conflict or violence suggested by the police body armour is provocative and resonates with many of the situations that children living with the effects of conflict have to deal with. The protection implied by the body armour is not short on irony.

Lot 249 DANIEL ARSHAM Building Cut (Column #1)
I enjoy being outside and get emersed in natural history. Stalagtites and stalagmites. The parody on the complexity of geology is not lost here in the simplicity of this piece.

Lot 287 DIANE ARBUS Burlesque Comedienne in her Dressing Room, Atlantic City, NJ
This piece oozes sexiness. I love it. I feel like a fifteen year old again in trying to make sense and reason out of this. It’s pure feeling. Sense and reason are wasted for me here. Immodesty Blaize, the burlesque dancer, has used her talents to help raise money for War Child and the reason for the success of her efforts is captured in this piece. Consequently, I’m a huge burlesque fan.

Lot 366 CHIHO AOSHIMA Chiho Magma Spirit Explodes
I’m really into rock music. This piece is like a ‘70s rock album cover gone feral - one of my favourite pieces in the exhibition. It’s brilliant!

Lot 396 JOEL TAUBER February 16th 2007: The Tree Babies have arrived!!!
Here is the start of life. Hope. Future possibilities. Life. All these things leap out at you from this piece. It’s what War Child is about and this image illustrates that perfectly.