For the last few weeks, artist Sacha Jafri has been self-isolating at Dubai’s Atlantis, The Palm.
However, it isn't just due the Covid-19 pandemic but rather for another reason: he wants to create the world's largest canvas painting. The work, once finished, will measure 160 metres long, larger than the size of two football pitches, and fill up two large ballrooms in the hotel.
Jafri, who is from the UK and lives in Dubai, isn’t just out to break records – though once completed, the painting will hold the Guinness World Record of "largest social, artistic and philanthropic project to ever be created". He started the project, named Humanity Inspired, with the intention to raise $25 million (Dh91.8m) towards educational resources for children, as well as for hospitals and healthcare workers within the UAE and internationally.
His initiative is held in collaboration with Unicef, the Global Gift Foundation charity and the support of the UAE government.
To help fill the canvas, the artist has invited children from around the world to send in their drawings themed around isolation and connection, which he will then add to the first layer of the painting. The final version will contain 300 layers of paint.
Jafri hopes to receive artworks from millions of children from over 120 countries. When the project was announced in May, he received more than 6,000 submissions from 40 countries on the first day.
On Instagram, Jafri says he has been working for more than 20 hours a day to finish the piece, which he aims to complete in 12 weeks.
He writes that he hopes the work will “keep the magic of the child within us… Forever”.
Once the work is completed, the canvas will be split into 30 panels and sold in an online charity auction.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The bio
His favourite book - 1984 by George Orwell
His favourite quote - 'If you think education is expensive, try ignorance' by Derek Bok, Former President of Harvard
Favourite place to travel to - Peloponnese, Southern Greece
Favourite movie - The Last Emperor
Favourite personality from history - Alexander the Great
Role Model - My father, Yiannis Davos
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How to join and use Abu Dhabi’s public libraries
• There are six libraries in Abu Dhabi emirate run by the Department of Culture and Tourism, including one in Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
• Libraries are free to visit and visitors can consult books, use online resources and study there. Most are open from 8am to 8pm on weekdays, closed on Fridays and have variable hours on Saturdays, except for Qasr Al Watan which is open from 10am to 8pm every day.
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