The world’s largest canvas painting has been auctioned in Dubai for £ 45 million (Rs 450 crore). This painting called ‘Journey of Humanity’ has been made by the British artist Sacha Jafri. This painting is 17,176 square feet big, which is equivalent to six tennis courts. The entire painting was divided into 70 lots for auction.
André Aboudone, a French citizen living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), bought all 70 of these lots. The painting was auctioned at the Palm Hotel on Tuesday. The organizers said that this painting has received twice as much money as the fixed amount. Money received from the auction will be donated to a charity that helps children.
This painting has been confirmed as the ‘largest art canvas’ by Guinness World Records. It was displayed in the hotel ballroom. André Abadoun told that when I saw this painting, I found it very attractive. It was sad for me to see it split into pieces. So I bought all the lots.
At the same time, Sacha Jafri had set a target of raising $ 30 million (about Rs. 218 crores) for the health, hygiene and education initiatives of children in the poorer parts of the world. But they have got more than that. The 44-year-old painter is hoping that his painting will promote the human movement.
Jafri said that when the lockdown was implemented due to coronavirus during his stay in the UAE, he thought of making this painting. Then he started making this painting on the concept of connection and isolation. For this, 1065 paint brushes and 6300 liters of paint were used.
However, the auction amount for the painting is the second most expensive bid in the world. Earlier, at an auction in 2018, David Hockney’s 1972 painting ‘Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures)’ was bid for $ 90.3 million (about Rs 656 crore). Which is by far the most expensive bid of a painting made by a living person.