ART FOR THE ANIMALS

The Stable Boy_2012_Pigment in ink on cotton rag paper_Edition of 5_80 x 80 cm

Hayden Fowler's work being auctioned on opening night

Liam Benson and Hayden Fowler were recently invited to contribute work to Compassionate Voices, an innovative exhibition advocating animal rights.

Compassionate Voices is the result of a collaboration between the animal protection institute Voiceless and Australian furniture and homeware designers Koskela. Liam and Hayden were among 31 Australian artists and designers invited to partake in the exhibition, curated by artist and environmental activist Liane Rossler. Through multiple artistic disciplines the exhibition promotes a vision of a world where animals are treated with compassion and respect.

Both artists marked their contribution with photographs of horses. For Liam it was The Stable Boy (2012), a warming photograph depicting the tender relationship between a man and his horse. Hayden's work Second Nature iv (edition 1/5) 2008 captures a white horse leaping in an elaborate choreographed set.

Compassionate Voices opened with a unique gala evening coloured with live entertainment, a children's craft workshop and vegan cuisine courtesy of Kitchen by Mike. Ten of the thirty one works were selected and sold in a silent auction on opening night. A percentage of sales and ticket proceeds are put towards the Voiceless initiative as they work toward the alleviation of animal suffering through social change.

Sales of remaining works will close on the 7th of September. They are available online here: http://galabid.com/auction/compassion