Dubai 16 February 2021: British artist and philanthropist Sacha Jafri has set the Guinness World Records title for ‘The Largest Art Canvas’ in the world, with his painting ‘The Journey of Humanity’.
It covers 17,176.6 square feet, Guinness World Records confirmed.
Sacha has been able to reach more than 2.5 billion people worldwide through this single piece of art which took seven months, 20 hours a day, to complete. He used 1,065 paint brushes and a whopping 6,300 litres of paint to create the record-breaking painting.
‘The Journey of Humanity’, now described as ‘The Modern-Day Sistine Chapel’, is part of his charitable initiative ‘Humanity Inspired’, supported by over 100 A-list celebrities, was launched under the patronage of Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence in partnership with Dubai Cares, part of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and Atlantis, The Palm.
The painting was created in Atlantis, The Palm’s ballroom, which was converted into the artist’s studio, where Sacha spent a period of 28 weeks from March to September 2020 during the lockdown.
“It was an honour to receive the Guinness World Records title for my project ‘The Journey of Humanity’. This is just the beginning of the ‘Humanity Inspired’ journey. ‘Humanity Inspired’ and ‘The Journey of Humanity’ is much more than a painting, it is my initiative for true societal change through the hearts, minds & souls of the children of the world – a springboard for a better future for all Humanity,” says Sacha.
“If one person can spend 20 hours a day (on four hours sleep) for seven months continuously, creating a painting of over 17,000 square feet on his own, imagine what 7.5 billion people could do together if we stopped the nonsense of discrimination, judgement and agenda. One World, One Soul, One Planet’.”
Since moving from the Atlantis Ballroom, this monumental painting ‘The Journey of Humanity’ has been broken down into numbered, signed, catalogued, and framed canvases. 70 individually framed pieces of ‘The Journey of Humanity’ will be sold across four auctions in 2021 with the funds being raised for charitable initiatives in the sectors of education, digital connectivity, healthcare, and sanitation; in partnership with Dubai Cares, Unicef, Unesco, Global Gift Foundation, as well as the Ministry of Tolerance and Coexistence and the Ministry of Education in the UAE.
The Unveiling
On the 25th Febuary this masterpiece returns to the place of its creation, the 2,100 metres squared Atlantis ballroom. This will be the first time that the canvas is ‘reunited’ as each framed piece will be assembled, recreating the original painting.
With special viewing platforms and a maze through which the painting can be viewed, the unveiling promises to be an auspicious moment to be enjoyed by a select few. Needless to say social distancing measures will be in place.
Special performances by some of the world’s greatest talents, including, singer, songwriter, actress and activist, Leona Lewis, X Factor judge, whose smash hit “Bleeding Love” spent 7 weeks at No.1 in 30 countries, will highlight the event.
US$30 million target
Jafri’s charitable initiative ‘Humanity Inspired’ aims to raise more than $30 million (USD) and is imbued by his vision to connect people for a more conscious and empathetic world post the COVID-19 pandemic. Sacha is committed to supporting the reshaping of the future of education through global connectivity, as well as providing funds, infrastructure and support for healthcare and sanitation in the world’s poorest regions. Dubai Cares, Unicef, Unesco and the Global Gift Foundation are the initiative’s beneficiaries, focusing their philanthropic efforts on Covid-19 emergency relief work through diverse campaigns around the world.
From February to May 2021, select pieces from ‘The Journey of Humanity’, along with Jafri’s much celebrated ‘18yr Retrospective Collection’ will be on show at the largest gallery in the UAE, the Leila Heller Gallery, which is located in Alserkal Avenue, Dubai. The gallery is helmed by internationally acclaimed gallerist Leila Heller, who is also known for her famous New York gallery which features works by Andy Warhol, Richard Prince, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and Tony Cragg.
