LUAP donated Purple Star Light, a 60 × 40 cm C-Type Print mounted on Aluminium, to the 2019 Terrence Higgins Trust Auction at Christie’s. Photographed in New Zealand for I Used To Be A Polar Bear, the work marked his third consecutive year supporting the charity.
I Used To Be A Polar Bear developed through LUAP’s travels with The Pink Bear and his ongoing relationship with nature. Across the series, the figure moved through expansive landscapes that continued recurring concerns around isolation, connection and our relationship with the natural world.
For the Christie’s auction, Purple Star Light was donated directly by the Artist in support of Terrence Higgins Trust. LUAP first contributed to the annual fundraiser in 2017 and returned with new work in each of the following two years.
The Pink Bear also appeared at Christie’s on the night of the live auction. As bidding began, the figure entered the auction room and moved to the front, bringing an unexpected performative element into the formal setting as Purple Star Light went under the hammer.
The work sold for twice its listed price, with the proceeds supporting Terrence Higgins Trust and its work with people living with and affected by HIV.
The evening marked another successful collaboration between LUAP, Christie’s and Terrence Higgins Trust, combining the donated Photography with a live appearance by The Pink Bear and raising further funds for the charity.
